Hormones

Front 1

Adrenal catecholamines (Epinephrine and Norepinephrine)

Back 1

Point of Origin: adrenal medulla
Chemistry: hydrophilic monoamine
Target Tissue(s): most cells of the body
Effects: produces effects associated with sympathetic stimulation; review this topic in
neurophysiology for more information

Front 2

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

Back 2

Point of Origin: corticotropes of the anterior pituitary gland (adenohypophysis)
Chemistry: peptide
Target Tissue(s): adrenal cortex
Effects: increased production of glucocorticoids and (to a much lesser degree) mineralocorticoids

Front 3

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH; vasopressin)

Back 3

Point of Origin: supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus (Transported through neural pathways to and
subsequently secreted to interstitial fluid by cells of the posterior pituitary gland
(neurohypophysis).)
Chemistry: small peptide
Target Tissue(s): collecting ducts of kidney
Effects: promotes production of aquaporins in the cells of the renal collecting ducts, allowing for
formation of concentrated urine through retention of water

Front 4

Calcitonin

Back 4

Point of Origin: parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland
Chemistry: polypeptide
Target Tissue(s): osteoclasts and osteoblasts of bone
Effects: increased rate of bone deposition by osteoblasts and decreased rate of bone resorption
by osteoclasts, producing a net decrease in plasma calcium concentration

Front 5

Calcitriol (Vitamin D3)

Back 5

Point of Origin: proximal tubule cells of kidney (Calcitriol’s production begins in the stratum spinosum and
stratum basale of the epidermis where a form of cholesterol (7-dehydrocholesterol) is
converted to cholecalciferol. This travels through the bloodstream to the liver where
hepatocytes convert it to calcidiol. This then travels through the bloodstream to the
kidney where proximal tubule cells convert it to calcitriol which is the hormonal form.)
Chemistry: steroid
Target Tissue(s): intestinal absorptive cells, distal convoluted tubule and collecting ducts of kidney, and
osteoblasts of bone
Effects: increases digestive absorption of calcium while weakly enhancing renal retention of
calcium and weakly enhancing the rate of bone resorption (through an indirect pathway
involving the osteoblasts), producing a net increase in plasma calcium concentration

Front 6

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)

Back 6

Point of Origin: arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus
Chemistry: peptide
Target Tissue(s): corticotropes of the anterior pituitary gland (adenohypophysis)
Effects: promotes production of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH); production is normally
cyclic to maintain stable blood sugar during between-meal periods, but can greatly
increase due to stress

Front 7

Erythropoietin (EPO)

Back 7

Point of Origin: juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) of kidney (85%) and the liver (15%)
Chemistry: glycoprotein
Target Tissue(s): bone marrow
Effects: increases the rate of erythropoiesis

Front 8

Glucagon

Back 8

Point of Origin: α-cells of the pancreatic islets
Chemistry: polypeptide
Target Tissue(s): liver
Effects: promotes both glycogenolysis (the breakdown of glycogen to glucose) and
gluconeogenesis (formation of glucose from amino acids and fatty acids), producing a net
increase in plasma glucose concentration

Front 9

Glucocorticoids (Cortisol, Cortisone, and Corticosterone)

Back 9

Point of Origin: zona fasciculate of the adrenal cortex
Chemistry: steroid
Target Tissue(s): most cells of the body
Effects: promotes gluconeogenesis (glucose formation from amino acids and fats) and glycogen
formation, enhances fatty acid metabolism and amino acid breakdown, and suppresses
protein synthesis, producing a net increase in plasma glucose concentration; suppresses
production of antibodies, white blood cells, and inflammatory mediators related to injury;
promotes production of receptors for epinephrine and norepinephrine

Front 10

Growth hormone (GH; human growth hormone (hGH); somatotropin)

Back 10

Point of Origin: somatotropes of the anterior pituitary gland (adenohypophysis)
Chemistry: protein
Target Tissue(s): most tissues of the body
Effects: promotes growth and metabolism; in particular, enhances protein synthesis, amino acid
uptake, glycogen formation (increasing blood sugar), and lipid metabolism; often acts
indirectly by promoting the production of somatomedins (or insulin-like growth factors
(ILGFs) which then directly trigger changes in cellular growth and metabolism

Front 11

Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)

Back 11

Point of Origin: arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus
Chemistry: small peptide
Target Tissue(s): somatotropes of the anterior pituitary gland (adenohypophysis)
Effects: promotes production of growth hormone (GH)

Front 12

Hepcidin

Back 12

Point of Origin: liver
Chemistry: peptide
Target Tissue(s): macrophages, intestinal absorptive cells
Effects: binds to ferroportin – the iron transport protein in macrophages and absorptive cells –
and blocks the uptake of dietary iron as well as the release of iron yielded during
erythrocyte processing by macrophages, causing a net reduction in plasma iron

Front 13

Insulin

Back 13

Point of Origin: β-cells of the pancreatic islets
Chemistry: protein
Target Tissue(s): muscle and adipose tissue (primary) and liver (secondary)
Effects: promotes production of glucose transporters to increase glucose uptake by muscle cells
and adipocytes, while also increasing the rate of glcolysis and glycogen synthesis
(particularly at the liver), producing a net decrease in plasma glucose concentration

Front 14

Mineralocorticoids (Aldosterone and Deoxycorticosterone)

Back 14

Point of Origin: zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex
Chemistry: steroid
Target Tissue(s): distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct of kidneys
Effects: increases renal reabsorption of Na+ (and therefore water) and secretion of K+ and H+

Front 15

Oxytocin (OT)

Back 15

Point of Origin: paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (Transported through neural pathways to
and subsequently secreted to interstitial fluid by cells of the posterior pituitary gland
(neurohypophysis).)
Chemistry: small peptide
Target Tissue(s): uterus, mammary glands
Effects: promotes uterine contractions during labor and milk production; unclear function in men

Front 16

Parathyroid hormone (PTH or parathormone)

Back 16

Point of Origin: parathyroid gland
Chemistry: peptide
Target Tissue(s): proximal convoluted tubule cells, distal convoluted tubule and collecting ducts of kidney,
and osteoclasts and osteoblasts of bone
Effects: increases production of calcitriol in the kidney, increases the rate of calcium reabsorption
and phosphate secretion by the kidney, increases the rate of bone resorption, and
decreases the rate of bone deposition, all of which produces a net increase in plasma
calcium concentration

Front 17

Somatostatin (Growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH))

Back 17

Point of Origin: arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus as well as δ-cells of pancreatic islets, and cells of
the stomach and duodenum
Chemistry: small peptide
Target Tissue(s): somatootropes and thyrotropes of the anterior pituitary gland (adenohypophysis) and
digestive glands
Effects: inhibits the production of both growth hormone (GH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone
(TSH); acts as a universal off signal in the digestive system, reducing the production of
hormones and reducing motility in various parts of the alimentary canal (often as a
paracrine but also as a hormone)

Front 18

Thyroid hormones (T3 and thyroxine (T4))

Back 18

Point of Origin: follicles of the thyroid gland (The thyroid follicles mostly produce hormones in the form of
T3. However, T4 is the primary active form of thyroid hormones. Target cells uptake T3
and convert it to T4 prior to action.)
Chemistry: hydrophobic monoamine
Target Tissue(s): nearly every tissue (with the thyroid gland and brain less affected)
Effects: increases cellular metabolic rate and/or promotes the growth and development of tissues

Front 19

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH; thyrotropin)

Back 19

Point of Origin: thryotropes of the anterior pituitary gland (adenohypophysis)
Chemistry: glycoprotein
Target Tissue(s): thyroid gland follicles
Effects: promotes production of thyroid hormones

Front 20

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)

Back 20

Point of Origin: arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus
Chemistry: small peptide
Target Tissue(s): thyrotropes of the anterior pituitary gland (adenohypophysis)
Effects: promotes production of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)