ghrelin
Stomach-produced appetite signal
Ghrelin is a hormone produced mainly in the stomach that stimulates appetite.
Ghrelin levels rise before meals and fall after eating, signaling hunger to the brain.
It's sometimes called the "hunger hormone," contrasting with leptin, which signals fullness.
Beyond appetite, ghrelin influences growth hormone release and energy metabolism.
Digestive organ below chest
- gastricOf the stomach
- gastrointestinalRelating to digestive tract
- gutDigestive tract, or instinct
- motilitySelf-generated movement capacity
emptying · fundus · intestinal · peristalsis · acid · enzymes · nutrients · absorption
Desire for food
- cravingPowerful urge to have
- satietyState of being full
- fastingDeliberate food avoidance
- starvationExtreme nutritional deprivation
famished · ravenous · pangs · peckish · voracious · insatiable · snacking · overeating
Short amino acid chain
- leptinFat-derived hunger regulator
- insulinPancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- endocrineInternally secreting gland system
- secretionSubstance released by glands
receptor · pituitary · hypothalamus · cortisol · neuropeptide · agonist · antagonist · circulating
Power to do work
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- lipidWater-insoluble organic compound
- adiposePertaining to stored lipids
lipolysis · thermogenesis · oxidation · storage · expenditure · caloric · anabolic · catabolic
Pituitary growth peptide
- pituitaryBrain-base hormone gland
- anabolicBuilding complex molecules
- muscleContractile body tissue
- boneHard skeletal tissue
acromegaly · dwarfism · puberty · aging · regeneration
stomach
Digestive organ below chest
- gastricOf the stomach
- gastrointestinalRelating to digestive tract
- gutDigestive tract, or instinct
motility · emptying · fundus · intestinal · peristalsis · acid · enzymes · nutrients · absorption · duodenum
appetite
Desire for food
starvation · famished · ravenous · pangs · peckish · voracious · insatiable · snacking · overeating · binge
peptide
Short amino acid chain
- leptinFat-derived hunger regulator
- insulinPancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- endocrineInternally secreting gland system
secretion · receptor · pituitary · hypothalamus · cortisol · neuropeptide · agonist · antagonist · circulating · plasma
energy
Power to do work
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- lipidWater-insoluble organic compound
adipose · lipolysis · thermogenesis · oxidation · storage · expenditure · caloric · anabolic · catabolic · bodyweight
HGH
Pituitary growth peptide
bone · acromegaly · dwarfism · puberty · aging · regeneration