What is the Origin of Endogenous Hormone Creation?

The term combines "endogenous," from Greek endon (within) and genes (producing), referring to internal origin, with "hormone," from Greek hormao (I excite or arouse), denoting the chemical messenger. This concept is fundamental to classical endocrinology, detailing how the body maintains its internal regulatory balance through self-produced signaling molecules.

What is the Mechanism of Endogenous Hormone Creation?

Steroid hormones, for example, are synthesized from cholesterol through a cascade of enzymatic conversions, including cytochrome P450 enzymes, which are specific to the producing gland. Peptide hormones, conversely, are transcribed from DNA, translated into prohormones, and then proteolytically cleaved into their final, active form before secretion. The precise control of these enzymatic pathways is crucial, as any disruption can lead to clinically significant hormonal excess or deficiency states.

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Endogenous Hormone Creation

Meaning

The complex, multi-step biosynthetic process within the human body, primarily occurring in endocrine glands such as the adrenals, gonads, and thyroid, that synthesizes hormones from precursor molecules like cholesterol or amino acids. This internal production is tightly regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-axis (HPA) through negative and positive feedback loops. It is the fundamental mechanism for maintaining hormonal homeostasis.