ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Hormones cause cellular changes by binding to receptors on target cells. The number of receptors on a target cell can increase or decrease in response to hormone activity. Hormones can affect cells directly through intracellular hormone receptors or indirectly through plasma membrane hormone receptors.

Detailed explanation-2: -For instance, steroid hormones, like the sex hormone groups estrogens and androgens, seek out specific target cells and bind to receptor proteins located inside the nucleus of the cell, as shown below.

Detailed explanation-3: -Once hormones find a target cell, they bind with specific protein receptors inside or on the surface of the cell and specifically change the cell’s activities. The protein receptor reads the hormone’s message and carries out the instructions by either influencing gene expression or altering cellular protein activity.

Detailed explanation-4: -Hormones can be thought of as chemical messages. From the blood stream, the hormones communicate with the body by heading towards their target cell to bring about a particular change or effect to that cell. The hormone can also create changes in the cells of surrounding tissues (paracrine effect).

Detailed explanation-5: -Hormones act as chemical messengers that are released into the blood stream to act on an organ in another part of the body. Although hormones reach all parts of the body, only target cells with compatible receptors are equipped to respond.