Endocrine glands and hormones

Chemical Coordination and Integration

While hearing your test marks, some may have anxiety and some may hesitate to hear and some may be worried. Do you know the reasons for such immediate changes? While seeing any unexpected happenings, we get goose bumps. Do you know the reason, why?

These are all due to the biochemical changes happening in our body, Which are created by the endocrine system. The above mentioned biochemical changes are due to the hormone adrenalin (flight, fright and fight hormone).

Endocrine glands and hormones

Physiological functions of our human body is regulated and coordinated by both neural and endocrine systems. The endocrine system influences the metabolic activities by means of hormones (hormone means to excite ) which are chemical messengers released into the blood and circulated as chemical signals and acts specifically on certain organs or tissues called target organs or target tissues. Hormones may speed up or slow down or alter the activity of the target organs. The hormones secreted do not remain permanently in the blood but are converted by the liver into inactive compounds and excreted by the kidneys.

Hormones are chemical messengers because they act as organic catalysts and coenzymes to perform specific functions in the target organs. The target organs contain receptor molecules either on the surface or within the cell. Although different hormones come in contact with cells, only the cells that contain receptor molecules specific for the hormone are physiologically activated. A single hormone may have multiple effects on a single target tissue or on different target tissues.

Many hormones exhibit long term changes like growth, puberty and pregnancy. Hormones often influence many organs and organ systems at the same time. Serious deficiency or excess secretion of hormones leads to disorders. Hormones coordinate different physical, physiological, mental activities and Maintain homeostasis. Hormones are composed of water soluble proteins or peptides or amines or fat soluble steroids.