How are Hormones formed in the human body?

Question

I know hormones are excreted by endocrine glands but how are they formed? What does the body do to prodeuce these hormones? Where does the body get the raw materials it needs? What are the substances needed by the body to form hormones?

Answer 1

Well, to put it in a nutshell, the hormones are formed from lipids, proteins,(whisch the cells obtein from the extracelular medium), then thanks to enzimas they are transformed in diferents products like hormones. Is more complesx than that but is just that essetialnly. C U

Answer 2

Most animal hormones are made up of chains of amino acids, but there are also those called steroid hormones, which chemically resemble to cholesterol. The latter are secreted by the ovaries, placenta, testes and adrenal cortex.
Basically amino acids are made up from atoms of Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen and Nitrogen (obviously it is more complicated than that). The 'raw materials' as you put it are derived from the protein we eat. This is broken down into amino acid subunits in the digestive tract and then the liver synthesizes them into new amino acids.
There are minerals such as Iodine which is important for the formation of thyroid hormones.
So in a nutshell, apart from proteins, vitamins and minerals are also needed for the production of hormones.

(this is just a quick overview, for further information which is quite basic and easy to follow I suggest the book below)

Answer 3

What Are Hormones Composed Of

Answer 4

A hormone (from Greek ορμή - "to set in motion") is a chemical messenger from one cell (or group of cells) to another. All multicellular organisms produce hormones (including plants - see article phytohormone).

The best-known animal hormones are those produced by endocrine glands of vertebrate animals, but hormones are produced by nearly every organ system and tissue type in an animal body. Hormone molecules are secreted (released) directly into the bloodstream; some hormones, called ectohormones, aren't secreted into the blood stream, they move by circulation or diffusion to their target cells, which may be nearby cells (paracrine action) in the same tissue or cells of a distant organ of the body. The function of hormones is to serve as a signal to the target cells; the action of hormones is determined by the pattern of secretion and the signal transduction of the receiving tissue.

Hormone actions vary widely, but can include stimulation or inhibition of growth, induction or suppression of apoptosis (programmed cell death), activation or inhibition of the immune system, regulating metabolism and preparation for a new activity (e.g., fighting, fleeing, mating) or phase of life (e.g., puberty, caring for offspring, menopause). In many cases, one hormone may regulate the production and release of other hormones. Many of the responses to hormone signals can be described as serving to regulate metabolic activity of an organ or tissue. Hormones also control the reproductive cycle of virtually all multicellular organisms.

Answer 5

Hormones are proteins formed from prohormones which in turn are formed by basic units of amino acids. Argenine,Valine,Histidine, Leucine,Isoleucine,Methionine,Phenylalanine,Tryptophan and Tyrosine are the aminoacids of importance. Endocrine gland cells program them to become prehormones and hormones . They get into blood stream directly.

Answer 6

Proteins = building blocks
Lipids = make up the cell linings
Carbohydrates = energy source

These are required to form hormones.

Answer 7

hormone ("to set in motion") is a chemical messenger from one cell (or group of cells) to another. All multicellular organisms produce hormones (including plants ).

The best-known animal hormones are those produced by endocrine glands of vertebrate animals, but hormones are produced by nearly every organ system and tissue type in an animal body. Hormone molecules are secreted (released) directly into the bloodstream; some hormones, called ectohormones, aren't secreted into the blood stream, they move by circulation or diffusion to their target cells, which may be nearby cells (paracrine action) in the same tissue or cells of a distant organ of the body. The function of hormones is to serve as a signal to the target cells; the action of hormones is determined by the pattern of secretion and the signal transduction of the receiving tissue.

Hormone actions vary widely, but can include stimulation or inhibition of growth, induction or suppression of apoptosis (programmed cell death), activation or inhibition of the immune system, regulating metabolism and preparation for a new activity (e.g., fighting, fleeing, mating) or phase of life (e.g., puberty, caring for offspring, menopause). In many cases, one hormone may regulate the production and release of other hormones. Many of the responses to hormone signals can be described as serving to regulate metabolic activity of an organ or tissue. Hormones also control the reproductive cycle of virtually all multicellular organisms.


The rate of production of a hormone is often regulated by a homeostatic control system, generally by negative feedback. Homeostatic regulation of hormones depends, apart from production, on the metabolism and excretion of hormones.

Vertebrate hormones fall into three chemical classes:

Amine-derived hormones are derivatives of the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan. Examples are catecholamines and thyroxine.
Peptide hormones consist of chains of amino acids. Examples of small peptide hormones are TRH and vasopressin. Peptides composed of scores or hundreds of amino acids are referred to as proteins. Examples of protein hormones include insulin and growth hormone. More complex protein hormones bear carbohydrate side chains and are called glycoprotein hormones. Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone are glycoprotein hormones.
Lipid and phospholipid-derived hormones derive from lipids such as linoleic acid and phospholipids such as arachidonic acid. The main classes are the steroid hormones that derive from cholesterol and the eicosanoids. Examples of steroid hormones are testosterone and cortisol. Sterol hormones such as calcitriol are a homologous system. The adrenal cortex and the gonads are primary sources of steroid hormones. Examples of eicosanoids are the widely-studied prostaglandins.