List of Hormones and their Functions
Hormones are the chemical messengers of the body.
They regulate the body physiology based on the signals from the brain.
They transfer the signal directly on to the respective organ or system for the changes to happen.
So they are like the messengers carrying a message from the brain to the other organs.
They are produced by the secretory cells of specific glands.
These glands are of different types which synthesize and secrete the concerned hormone.
But they do not release them into the blood. Instead, the blood flows through these glands and carry away.
So they are termed as endocrine glands.
Most of the hormones are named after the gland from which they are secreted.
These are then carried by blood into target tissues where they show their effect.
They regulate most of the body physiology and functions.
They bring such changes by acting at the level of genetic material or protein formation machinery of the cell.
These hormones if deficient or if excess can lead to hormonal disorders.
These can have a deleterious effect on health and physiology.
So how many hormones are there in the human body?
Below is the comprehensive list along with their functions.
List of Hormones and their Functions in the human body
| Hormone | Function | Endocrine Gland secreting |
| Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) | Stimulates thyroid gland to synthesize T3 & T4 hormones | Hypothalamus (HYP) |
| Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) | Stimulates cortex of adrenal gland to secrete gluco and mineralo corticoids | (HYP) |
| Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) | Stimulates formation of growth hormone, | (HYP) |
| Growth hormone inhibitory hormone (GHIH) (somatostatin) | Inhibits release of growth hormone, TSH, insulin | (HYP) |
| Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or leutinising hormone releasing hormone. | Controls release of FSH, LH | (HYP) |
| Dopamine or prolactin-inhibiting factor (PIF) | Inhibits prolactin secretion. | (HYP) |
| Growth hormone | Stimulates growth of the body | Anterior pituitary (AP) |
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) | Releases T3 & T4 | (AP) |
| Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) | Stimulates adrenal cortex to produce | (AP) |
| Prolactin | Stimulates milk formation | (AP) |
| Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) | Stimulates to form sperms in male and Ova in female. | (AP) |
| Luteinizing hormone (LH) | Formation of ova in females & production of testosterone | (AP) |
| Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) (also called vasopressin) | Limit water expulsion by kidney. It also constricts blood vessels and rise blood pressure | Posterior pituitary |
| Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) | Regulates body metabolism and heat | Thyroid |
| Calcitonin | Reduces blood calcium. by enhanced deposition in bone, decrease in intestinal absorption and expulsion by kidney. | Thyroid |
| Cortisol | Increases blood sugar levels and suppresses immune system | Adrenal cortex |
| Aldosterone | Adrenal cortex | |
| Norepinephrine, epinephrine | Adrenal medulla | |
| Insulin (β cells) | Helps absorb glucose from blood to tissue and also release from liver | Pancreas |
| Glucagon (α cells) | Helps absorb glucose into liver to form glyocgen | Pancreas |
| Parathyroid hormone (PTH | Parathyroid | |
| Testosterone | Builds muscles, give muscline character and also stimulate formation of sperms | Testes |
| Estrogens | Development of female reproductive system. | Ovaries & Placenta |
| Progesterone | Menstruation, Aids zygote implantation, Lactation & sexual drive | Ovaries & Placenta |
| Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) | Placenta | |
| Human somatomammotropin | Placenta | |
| Renin | Helps maintain blood volume and there by blood pressure | Kidney |
| 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol | Rises Blood calcium levels | kidney/nephron |
| Erythropoietin | Stimulates formation of red blood cells. | Kidney |
| Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) | Balance of water, sodium, potassium and fat in body | Heart muscle |
| Gastrin | To secrete gastric juice | Stomach |
| Secretin | Water levels and water balance in body | Small intestine/duodenum |
| Cholecystokinin (CCK) | Stimulates fat and protein digestion in intestine. | |
| Leptin | Regulates energy balance. Inhibits hunger if needed | adipose cells |
| Ghrelin | Stimulates hunger | Gastro intestine |
From the above list, the ones secreted by hypothalamus, anterior and posterior pituitary are formed in the brain.
While the remaining hormones are formed outside the brain, once released they are carried on by blood to different regions.
The hormones on reaching the corresponding regions elicit their response.
It is quite impressive to note that the ones released from they also brain regulate the secretion of other hormones.
So it indicates that their secretion is controlled by the brain and indirectly all the other hormones too. Thus the whole body physiology seems to be under the control of the brain.
Any emotional disturbance to the brain can lead to alteration in the secretion of these hormones. Thus we can see that during emotional changes we experience hormonal imbalance too.
