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Functional Hormone Pool

Meaning

The Functional Hormone Pool represents the total quantity of biologically active hormones available to exert their effects on target tissues at any given moment. This pool is not merely the total concentration measured in serum, but rather the sum of free, unbound hormones and those weakly bound to carrier proteins, such as albumin, which are readily dissociable. The functional pool is the true determinant of hormonal signaling strength and subsequent physiological effect, directly influencing metabolic rate, mood, and anabolism. Clinical assessment of this pool, often through measurement of free hormone fractions, provides a more accurate picture of endocrine status than total hormone levels alone.