Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

Hormones serve as what type of messengers in the body?

1. Electrical signals

2. Chemical messengers

3. Physical markers

4. Cellular receptors

The correct answer is: Chemical messengers

Hormones function as chemical messengers in the body, meaning they are released into the bloodstream and travel to target organs or tissues to elicit specific physiological responses. This process is crucial for regulating various bodily functions, such as metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, and mood. Hormones are produced by endocrine glands, and their action can have widespread effects, affecting numerous systems and processes. In contrast, electrical signals typically refer to the way nerve impulses transmit information throughout the nervous system, rather than the hormonal system. Physical markers do not play a role in communication between cells or in the regulation of physiological processes. Cellular receptors are actually the components that hormones bind to in order to exert their effects, which highlights the importance of the hormone as the messenger that initiates a response upon binding to receptors. The role of hormones as chemical messengers is essential for maintaining homeostasis and responding to internal and external changes in the body.