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As many teens know (and begrudge) with aging comes changes in hormonal balance and, as a result, one's body. So, today we're going to go through the key hormones that influence day-to-day cycles, brain and body development, and more.
As many teens know (and begrudge) with aging comes changes in hormonal balance and, as a result, one's body. So, today we're going to go through the key hormones that influence day-to-day cycles, brain and body development, and more.
The key hormones
The key hormones
There are over 60 hormones known to scientists and doctors that influence everything from sleep to reproduction, mood to disease.
Parathyroid hormone, oxytocin, osteocalcin, leptin, insulin, growth hormone, glucagon, ghrelin, calcitonin, dopamine, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, norepinephrine, melatonin, adrenaline, testosterone, cortisol, progesterone, estrogen are some of the more well-known hormones that influence you on a day-to-day basis.
What is a hormone?
What is a hormone?
The body relies on three (core) types of cell-to-cell communication for dictating bodily processes and keeping you alive and well. These processes are autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine. The image to the right also depicts intracrine, within the cell to the cell, and justacrine, between two cells via gap junctions (connections protected from extracellular matrices); but for majority of bodily processes, autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine communication suffices.
Hormones are ligands that travel via endocrine signaling (hence, the title "the endocrine system").
Some hormones are steroids, meaning they are derived from fats, more specifically cholesterols, and all share the same four-ring structure as depicted on the right.
Hormones involved in eating and digestion
Hormones involved in eating and digestion
Note: In another blog, I detailed the effects of leptin and ghrelin on eating habits, so we'll skip over those today.
Parathyroid hormone: Involved in metabolic function; activates vitamin D; regulates calcium levels in the blood
Insulin: Released in the pancreas; regulates blood-glucose level
Read about insulin and diabetes here; read about insulin and blood-glucose regulation here; read how insulin manages high-sugar conditions.
Glucagon: Breaks down glycogen to release glucose in the blood
Calcitonin: Released by the thyroid; helps construct bone; lowers blood calcium levels
Thyroxine (T4): Regulates metabolism of carbs, proteins, and fats; stimulates growth
Triiodothyronine (T3): Regulates rate of metabolism
Hormones involved in growth and development
Hormones involved in growth and development
Osteocalcin: Released in osteoclasts (bone-forming cells); helps new bone matrices develop; regulates blood-glucose levels; involved in muscle function and memory formation
Growth hormone: Promotes growth and cell reproduction
Testosterone: Promotes muscle growth and strength; increases bone density; matures male reproductive development; deepens the voice and grows facial and axillary hair
Estrogen: Promotes female reproductive development and health; regulates blood vessels and fluid balance and water retention; encourages lung function; reduces bowel motility; estrogen levels change throughout a woman's menstrual cycle
Progesterone: Responsible for pregnancy development; supports reproductive function and fertility in females; progesterone levels change throughout a woman's menstrual cycle
Hormones involved in mood and brain function
Hormones involved in mood and brain function
Oxytocin: Commonly called the "love hormone" as it regulates trust and love between individuals, including a mother and her children, in women.
Dopamine: Involved in the brain's reward and pleasure function; makes one feel happy
Norepinephrine: Released by the adrenal gland; regulates blood pressure; increases metabolism
Melatonin: Manages sleep-wake cycle as dictated by the Circadian rhythm
Adrenaline: In stressful situations, increases cardiac output, raises goosebumps, raises blood pressure, etc.
Cortisol: Commonly known as the "stress hormone" cortisol regulates inflammation, stimulates fat breakdown, and blocks glucose uptake during stressful situations
Written by: Siena
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