Hormones, Pheromones and Behavior Flashcards
What are hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers that are secreted by glands. Hormones are produced by endocrine glands and neurotransmitters are produced within neurons when triggered by an electrical impulse. Hormones enter directly into the bloodstream. A hormone may take several seconds to be stimulated, released and reach its destination.
What is testosterone?
is primarily secreted in the gonads, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands. It is the main male sex hormone and plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such. as increased muscle + bone mass + hair growth.
what is a pheromone?
these are chemical hormones that, despite not having a smell, are detected by the vomeronasal organ, which lies at the base of the nasal cavity, in the soft tissue and just above the roof of the mouth. They can only act within species. Pheromones are produced individually, but act outside the body at species level. Sometimes referred to as ‘exogeneous hormones’. A pheromone is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting like hormones outside the body of the secreting individual, to affect the behavior of the receiving individuals
