hormone

Examples of hormone in the following topics:

• The Endocrine System

  • Hormones are chemicals within the endocrine system that affect physiological activity.
  • Hormones have high levels of specificity, which means they only react with certain receptor sites in the body.
  • The best way to describe hormones is to think of a lock and a key: only a certain hormone (lock) can create a certain response within your body's receptive tissue (key).
  • There are a huge number of hormones that can be categorized as peptides.
  • Oxytocin: the "cuddle" hormone; secreted by the pituitary gland; affects breast-feeding, trust between people;

• The Endocrine System and Hunger

  • Hunger is controlled by the hypothalamus and hormones.
  • These contractions are believed to be triggered by high concentrations of the hormone ghrelin.
  • Two other hormones, peptide YY and leptin, cause the physical sensations of being full.
  • It involves neural signals from the GI tract, blood levels of nutrients, and GI-tract hormones.
  • Hormones can have a wide range of effects on hunger.

• How the Body Responds to Stress

  • When presented with stress, the body responds by releasing hormones that will prepare it for the fight-or-flight response.
  • When a threat or danger is perceived, the body responds by releasing hormones that will prepare it for the fight-or-flight response.
  • Stressful stimuli cause the hypothalamus to signal the adrenal medulla (which mediates short-term stress responses) via nerve impulses, and the adrenal cortex (which mediates long-term stress responses) via the hormone adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which is produced by the anterior pituitary.
  • When presented with a stressful situation, the body responds by calling for the release of hormones that provide a burst of energy.
  • Additionally, these hormones increase oxygen availability to cells by increasing the heart rate and dilating the bronchioles.

• Biological Influences on Sexual Motivation

  • Biological factors, such as hormones, play an important role in the sexual motivation of humans.
  • In most mammalian species, sex hormones control the ability to engage in sexual behaviors.
  • Biologically, sexual motivation is influenced by hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, and vasopressin.
  • The hormones oxytocin and vasopressin may also help to regulate males' sexual motivation.
  • The relationship between hormones and female sexual motivation is not as well understood, largely due to the overemphasis on male sexuality in Western research.

• The Endocrine System and Stress

  • The hypothalamus contains neurons that synthesize and secrete vasopressin and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH).
  • These two hormones travel through blood to the anterior pituitary, where they cause the secretion of stored adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).
  • This causes a negative feedback cycle in which the steroids inhibit the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, and it also causes the adrenal gland to produce the hormones epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and norepinephrine.
  • Stress hormone release tends to decline gradually after a stressor occurs.
  • In post-traumatic stress disorder there appears to be lower-than-normal cortisol release, and it is thought that a blunted hormonal response to stress may predispose a person to develop PTSD.

• Biology of Sexual Behavior

  • In most mammalian species, sex hormones control the ability to engage in sexual behaviors.
  • The brain regulates the release of hormones, which are believed to be the physiological origin of sexual desire.
  • Several important sexual hormones are secreted by the pituitary gland.
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers the release of a mature egg in females during the process of ovulation.
  • The levels of these hormones rise and fall throughout a woman's menstrual cycle.

• Physical Development in Adolescence

  • These changes are largely influenced by hormonal activity.
  • During puberty, the adolescent's hormonal balance shifts strongly towards an adult state; the process is triggered by the pituitary gland, which secretes a surge of hormonal agents into the blood stream and initiates a chain reaction.
  • The male and female gonads are activated by the surge of hormones, which puts them into a state of rapid growth and development.
  • The testes primarily release testosterone, and the ovaries release estrogen; the production of these hormones increases gradually until sexual maturation is met.
  • The adolescent growth spurt is a rapid increase in an individual's height and weight during puberty resulting from the simultaneous release of growth hormones, thyroid hormones, and androgens.

• How Stress Impacts our Health

  • Sustained or chronic stress, in particular, leads to elevated hormones such as cortisol, the "stress hormone," and reduced serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, including dopamine, which has been linked to depression.
  • Cortisol, also known as the "stress hormone", plays an integral role in our body's reaction to stress.
  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system reacts within a person's brain, and it releases the hormone cortisol from the adrenal glad when one is exposed to a stressor.

• Physical Development in Adulthood

  • This process involves hormonal changes and may last anywhere from six months to five years.
  • Because of the shifting hormone levels, women going through menopause often experience a range of other symptoms, such as anxiety, poor memory, inability to concentrate, depressive mood, irritability, mood swings, and less interest in sexual activity.

• Gender Dysphoria

  • ., undergone hormonal or surgical procedures to alter their body in a way that matches their experienced gender identity).
  • This specifier helps to ensure post-transition individuals can continue to receive ongoing hormonal or other treatment as needed.
  • Other research into genetic variation, hormones, and differences in brain functioning and brain structures suggest evidence for the biological etiology of the symptoms associated with gender dysphoria; however much of this research is preliminary and still controversial.
  • It may include psychological counseling to target lifestyle changes (such as changing one's name and/or gender on legal identity documents, or adopting dress/mannerisms of another gender); it may also include medical interventions such as hormonal treatment, genital surgery, electrolysis or laser hair removal, chest/breast surgery, or other reconstructive surgeries.