51. What are hormones?
Hormones are substances produced in our body in very small
quantities, but have very powerful effects on organs and body
systems. The glands which produce hormones are known as
endocrine glands.
Also known as ‘chemical messengers', hormones switch on or switch
off the action of other parts of the body, including other glands.
Hormones control growth and development of our body and play a
very important role in sexual development and reproduction. These
are produced in six organs, kidneys, intestine, thyroid gland in the
neck and pituitary and hypothalamus glands in the brain. Our body
produces 30 hormones apart from stress hormones which are
secreted when we fear, get injured or are angry.
