The Intricacies of Growth in Human Body
To correctly perform the various complex functions of the human body, it is necessary that a substance that regulates these various functions is also present. This is achieved in the human body by the way of hormones which are chemical substances that are secreted by cells of the body to act or regulate functions of other cells of the body. In vertebrates, hormones can be classified as amine hormones, peptide hormones, and lipid and phospholipids hormones. Deficiency of any of the hormones essential for vital functions of the human body can result in disorders concerning that particular hormone or the body part where its effect is seen.
Some important human hormones are thyroxin, dopamine, glucagons, melatonin, growth hormone, insulin, testosterone, adrenalin, etc. The human growth hormone, as the name suggests, is a hormone that works for the regulation of growth in the human body. Besides stimulating required growth, it also acts to inhibit growth when not desired; for example, growth of unwanted cells. It falls in the classification of peptide hormones and is released by the pituitary gland. The deficiency of this hormone can lead to stunted growth in teenagers and small children. Presence in excess, on the other hand, can lead to formation of tumors in the pituitary gland.