Anatomy/Hormone List

NOTE: THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS! A complete list of hormones is hard to find, as some are debatable. This list is off of Wikipedia.

Hormone name Secreted by| Effect| Structure| Mechanism| Notes (if applicable)


 * Adiponectin Adipocytes| Regulates metabolism of lipids, glucose; influences body's response to insulin; has anti-inflammatory effects on the cells lining the walls of blood vessels| Peptide| n/a| Reduces risk of heart attack in great quantities
 * Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) Anterior pituitary| Stimulates secretion of glucocorticoids| Peptide| cAMP| Is a response to corticotropin-releasing hormone
 * Aldosterone Adrenal cortex| Increases reabsorption of sodium, water; releases potassium in kidneys; increases blood pressure| Steroid- mineralocortoid| Direct| Responds to low salt levels
 * Androstenedione Adrenal glands, gonads| n/a| Steroid- sex (androgen)| Direct| Precursor to testosterone, sold as a muscle strengthener
 * Angiotensinogen, angiotensin(AGT) Liver| Causes blood vessels to constrict and promotes sodium retention, thereby raising blood pressure; stimulates release of aldosterone| Peptide| IP3| Angiotensinogen is a precursor to angiotensin
 * Antidiuretic hormone, or vasopressin (ADH) Posterior pituitary| Prevents production of dilute urine; retains water in kidneys; releases ACTH| Peptide| Varies| Also called arginine vasopressin
 * Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) Gonads| Prevents development of müllerian ducts into the uterus and other müllerian structures| Peptide| n/a| Is undetectable in females until puberty; is detectable in males during child/adulthood
 * Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) Heart| Inhibits sodium ion reabsorption, renin release in kidney; inhibits secretion of aldosterone; lowers blood pressure| Peptide| cGMP| Is response to high blood pressure
 * Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) Heart| Lowers blood pressure; reduces blood water, sodium, and fats| Peptide| n/a| Has a lesser effect than ANP
 * Calcidiol (calcifediol) Skin/kidneys| Is an inactive form of vitamin D3| Sterol| Direct| Is a prehormone
 * Calcitonin (CT) Thyroid| Constructs bone; reduces blood calcium| Peptide| cAMP| Opposite of parathyroid hormone
 * Calcitriol (INN) Skin/kidney| Active form of vitamin D3; increases amount of calcium in body| Sterol| Direct
 * Cholecystokinin (CCK) Duodenum | Releases digestive enzymes from pancreas; releases bile from gallbladder| Peptide| n/a| Acts as hunger suppressant; is response to food
 * Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) Hypothalamus| Stimulates release of corticotropin from anterior pituitary| Peptide| cAMP
 * Cortisol Adrenal cortex| Inhibits glucose uptake in muscle and fat tissue; stimulates fat breakdown| Steroid- glucocorticoid| Direct| Is immunosuppressive, ‘stress hormone’
 * Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Testis, ovary, kidney| Virilization; anabolic| Steroid- sex (androgen)| Direct| Is precursor to testosterone
 * Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) Multiple| Responsible for formation of male primary sex characteristics during embryonic life| Steroid- sex (androgen)| Direct| Precursor to testosterone
 * Dopamine (DPM/PIH/DA) Kidney, hypothalamus| Increases heart rate, blood pressure; inhibits release of prolactin and TRH from anterior pituitary| Amine- tyrosine (catecholamine)| n/a
 * Endothelin Stomach| Constricts blood vessels; raises blood pressure| Amine- protein| n/a Enkephalin| Kidney| Regulates pain| Peptide| n/a
 * Epinephrine/adrenaline (EPI) Adrenal medulla| Boosts supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, while suppressing other non-emergency bodily processes (digestion in particular)| Amine- tyrosine (catecholamine)| n/a| Is part of “fight or flight” response
 * Erythropoietin (EPO) Kidney| Promotes differentiation, development of red blood cells; initiates production of hemoglobin | Peptide| n/a| Is triggered by low oxygen levels; is prime regulator of blood cell production
 * Estradiol (E2) Ovary and testis| Females: Promotes formation of female secondary sex characteristics; accelerates height growth, metabolism; reduces muscle mass; stimulates endometrial growth; increases uterine growth; increases bone formation; reduces bowel motility; increases cholesterol in bile. Males: Prevents apoptosis of germ cells| Steroid- sex (estrogen)| Direct| Is primary estrogen
 * Estriol Placenta| Has weak effects similar to estradiol’s| Steroid- sex (estrogen)| Direct| Is one of three principal estrogens
 * Estrone Ovary, adipose| Has effects similar to estradiol| Steroid- sex (estrogen)| Direct| Is one of three principal estrogens
 * Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) Anterior pituitary|Females: Stimulates maturation of Graafian follicles in ovary. Males:Stimulates maturation of sperm cells; enhances production ofandrogen-binding protein| Peptide| cAMP
 * Gastrin Stomach| Stimulates secretion of HCl| Peptide| n/a| Is response to food
 * Ghrelin Stomach| Stimulates appetite, secretion of growth hormone from anterior pituitary| Peptide| n/a| Is counterpart of leptin
 * Glucagon (GCG) Pancreas|Raises blood glucose levels; stimulates the release of insulin| Peptide| cAMP| Is response to low blood sugar levels
 * Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) Hypothalamus| Releases follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from anterior pituitary| Peptide| IP3
 * Growth hormone (GH) Anterior pituitary| Stimulates somatic growth; mobilizes fats; spares glucose| Protein| n/a| Somatotropin is natural growth hormone
 * Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) Hypothalamus| Releases growth hormone from anterior pituitary| Peptide| IP3
 * Histamine Stomach| Stimulates gastric acid secretion; triggers inflammatory response | Amine- histidine| n/a
 * Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) Placenta| Maintains corpus luteum during beginning of pregnancy; inhibits immune response toward embryo| Peptide| cAMP
 * Human placental lactogen (HPL) Placenta| Increases production of insulin; increases insulin resistance and carbohydrate intolerance; facilitates energy supply of fetus| Peptide| n/a| Is similar to HGH
 * Inhibin Testis, ovary, fetus| Regulates FSH synthesis, inhibits FSH secretion| Peptide| n/a| Is opposite of activin
 * Insulin Pancreas| Takes up glucose from blood to store as glycogen; stops use of fat as energy source| Peptide| n/a
 * Insulin-like growth factor, or somatomedin (IGF) Liver| Has insulin-like effects; regulates cell growth, development| Peptide| n/a
 * Leptin (LEP) Adipose| Suppresses appetite| Peptide| n/a| Is response to fatty foods
 * Leukotrienes (LT) White blood cells| Regulates immune response| Eicosanoid| n/a| Contributes to inflammation in asthma and bronchitis
 * Lipotropin (PRH) Anterior pituitary| Stimulates melanocytes to produce melanin| Peptide| n/a
 * Luteinizing hormone (LH) Female: Ovulation. Males: Stimulates Leydig cell production of testosterone| Peptide| cAMP
 * Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) Anterior pituitary/pars intermedia| Stimulates melanogenesis by melanocytes in skin and hair| Peptide| cAMP| In people who cannot tan/have red hair, the variance is in the hormone receptor, making them unresponsive to MSH
 * Melatonin Pineal gland| Antioxidant, causes drowsiness| Amine- tryptophan| n/a
 * Neuropeptide Y (NPY) Hypothalamus| Increases food intake; increases proportion of energy stored as fat| Peptide| n/a
 * Norepinephrine (NRE) Adrenal medulla| Increases heart rate; triggers release of glucose from energy storage; increases blood flow to skeletal muscle| Amine- tyrosine (catecholamine)| n/a| Part of fight-or-flight response
 * Orexin Hypothalamus| Increases wakefulness, energy expenditure, appetite| Peptide| n/a
 * Oxytocin (OXT) Posterior pituitary| Stimulates uterine contractions; initiates breast milk ejection| Peptide| n/a| Triggered by cervical/uterine stretching, suckling of infant
 * Pancreatic polypeptide Pancreas| Regulates pancreas secretion activities| Peptide| n/a
 * Parathyroid hormone (PTH) Increases blood calcium level; stimulates osteoclasts; decreases blood phosphate| Peptide| cAMP Progesterone| Ovary, adrenal glands, placenta| Inhibits immune response towards embryo; reduces gall bladder activity; inhibits onset of labor; supports pregnancy| Steroid- sex (progestagen)| Direct
 * Prolactin Anterior pituitary| Promotes lactation| Protein| n/a
 * Prolactin-releasing hormone (PRH) Hypothalamus| Releases prolactin from anterior pituitary| Peptide| n/a
 * Prostacyclin (PGI2) Endothelium| Prevents platelet activation; is vasodilator| Eicosanoid| n/a
 * Relaxin (RLN) Uterus| Unclear in humans| Peptide| n/a
 * Renin Kidney| Activates renin-angiotensin system| Peptide| n/a
 * Secretin (SCT) Duodenum| Secretes bicarbonate from liver, pancreas; stops production of gastric juice| Peptide| n/a
 * Serotonin (5-HT) Gastrointestinal tract| Regulates mood, appetite, sleep, muscle contractions, memory, and learning| Amine- tryptophan| n/a
 * Somatostatin (SRIF) Hypothalamus|Inhibits release of GH, TRH from anterior pituitary; lowers rate of gastric emptying; reduces smooth muscle contractions, blood flow within the intestine; inhibits release of insulin| Peptide| n/a
 * Testosterone Testes| Increases muscle mass, strength, bone density; matures sex organs; forms scrotum; deepens voice; grows beard, axillary hair| Steroid- sex (androgen)| Direct
 * Thrombopoeitin (TPO) Liver, kidney, striated muscle| Produces platelets| Peptide| n/a
 * Thromboxane (TXA2) Platelets| Is a vasoconstrictor, hypertensive agent; facilitates platelet aggregation| Eicosanoid| n/a
 * Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) Anterior pituitary| Secretes thyroxine, triiodothyronine| Peptide| cAMP
 * Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) Hypothalamus| Releases TSH, prolactin| Peptide| IP3
 * Thyroxine (T4) Thyroid| Increases basal metabolic rate, sensitivity to catecholamines| Amine- tyrosine| Direct| Less active form of TH
 * Triiodothyronine (T3) Thyroid| Increases basal metabolic rate, sensitivity to catecholamines; affects protein synthesis| Amine- tyrosine| Direct| Potent form of TH