Endocrine Disorders and Therapies

Hormones and Steroids

Hormones are chemical messengers that have diverse chemical structures including eicosanoids, steroids, amino acid derivatives, peptides, and proteins that are secreted into the blood, which carries them to organs and tissues of the body to exert their functions. They are essential for every activity of life, including the processes of such as digestion, metabolism, respiration, tissue function, sensory perception, sleep, excretion, lactation, stress, growth and development, movement, reproduction, and mood. Many hormones, such as neurotransmitters, are active in more than one physical process.