chemical messengers
Body's internal signals
Chemical messengers are substances the body produces to transmit signals between cells, tissues, or organs.
Hormones, neurotransmitters, and cytokines all qualify—insulin regulates blood sugar, dopamine carries signals between neurons, and histamine triggers immune responses.
The term emphasizes function over chemical structure: The brain relies on chemical messengers to regulate mood and behavior.
Reward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
- GABAInhibitory brain neurotransmitter
norepinephrine · epinephrine · endorphins · histamine · adenosine · nitric oxide · glycine · substance P
Pancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- cortisolAdrenal steroid regulating stress
- estrogenFemale reproductive hormone
- testosteroneChief male sex hormone
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
thyroxine · melatonin · oxytocin · vasopressin · progesterone · glucagon · leptin · ghrelin
Biological internal stability maintenance
- feedbackReturned response data
- inhibitionMental check on behavior
- activationSetting into operation
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
synthesis · degradation · release · uptake · desensitization · upregulation · downregulation · phosphorylation
Signal-receiving molecule
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
- pathwayDesignated route for travel
- ligandMolecule that binds centrally
- binding siteMolecular attachment region
downstream · upstream · amplification · tyrosine kinase · cell membrane · intracellular · extracellular · crosstalk
dopamine
Reward-linked neural messenger
- serotoninMood-regulating brain chemical
- acetylcholineNeurotransmitter for muscles and memory
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
GABA · norepinephrine · epinephrine · endorphins · histamine · adenosine · nitric oxide · glycine · substance P · synapse
insulin
Pancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- cortisolAdrenal steroid regulating stress
- estrogenFemale reproductive hormone
- testosteroneChief male sex hormone
adrenaline · thyroxine · melatonin · oxytocin · vasopressin · progesterone · glucagon · leptin · ghrelin · prolactin
homeostasis
Biological internal stability maintenance
- feedbackReturned response data
- inhibitionMental check on behavior
- activationSetting into operation
modulation · synthesis · degradation · release · uptake · desensitization · upregulation · downregulation · phosphorylation · enzyme
receptor
Signal-receiving molecule
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
- pathwayDesignated route for travel
- ligandMolecule that binds centrally
binding site · downstream · upstream · amplification · tyrosine kinase · cell membrane · intracellular · extracellular · crosstalk
- chemical signalspheromone, pheromones, sex pheromones, alarm signals, alarm signal
chemical messengerselectrical impulses
Brief voltage changes in tissue
electrical signals · nerve impulses · electrical transmission
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