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How do hormones regulate growth and development?
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human body
Vintage anatomy charts of the human body showing the skeletal and muscle systems.
Hormones serve as critical internal regulators of growth and development in the human body, acting through complex, integrated feedback systems. Their influence is primarily mediated by the pituitary gland, the thyroid gland, and the sex hormones.12
- Growth Hormone: Secreted by the anterior pituitary, this hormone is essential for skeletal growth in children. It acts indirectly by stimulating the liver to produce "sulfation factor," which promotes protein synthesis and bone development. Deficiencies in childhood lead to dwarfism, while excesses can cause gigantism or acromegaly.3214
- Thyroid Hormone: This is vital for normal metabolic function and skeletal maturation. In infants, it is critical for neural and skeletal development; deficiency can result in permanent brain damage and growth retardation.352
- Sex Hormones: Testosterone and estrogens drive the adolescent growth spurt and the development of secondary sexual characteristics. They also influence bone maturation, eventually leading to the closure of the epiphyses, which halts linear growth.123
- Insulin: This hormone supports bone growth by facilitating the effects of growth hormone and promoting protein synthesis.3