hormone

hormone definition - medical

hor·mone (hôrˈmōnˌ)

noun
  1. A substance, usually a peptide or steroid, produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect physiological activity, such as growth or metabolism.
  2. A synthetic compound that acts like a hormone in the body.

Related Forms:

  • hor·monˈal (-mōˈnəl) adjective

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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