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A target cell is a specific cell that has receptors for a particular hormone, allowing it to respond to that hormone's signals. Not all cells are considered target cells for all hormones because each hormone is designed to interact with specific receptors on specific cells, leading to specific responses in the body. This specificity ensures that hormones only affect the cells that are meant to respond to them, maintaining the body's balance and regulation.
Target Cells
Glands send messages in the form of hormones to target cells through the bloodstream. Hormones are released by glands into the blood where they travel to target cells throughout the body to elicit a specific response. Target cells have specific receptors that recognize and respond to the hormones.
The term for hormones that affect only certain tissues or organs is "target hormones." These hormones are specifically designed to interact with particular cells that have receptors for them, leading to specific physiological responses in those tissues or organs. Examples include insulin, which primarily affects liver, muscle, and fat cells, and thyroid hormones, which target various tissues throughout the body.
hormones go to there target cells or target organs
Hormones are transported to target cells, which are cells in another part of the body where the hormone will have an effect.
Steroid hormones typically interact with their target cells inside the cell, specifically in the cytoplasm or nucleus. Once inside, they bind to specific receptor proteins, forming hormone-receptor complexes that can then modulate gene expression and alter cellular processes.
Cells communicate through hormones by releasing these chemical messengers into the bloodstream. These hormones then travel to target cells with specific receptors that can recognize and respond to the hormone. Once the hormone binds to its receptor on the target cell, it triggers a series of signal transduction pathways that ultimately result in a cellular response.
Hormones affect target cells because target cells have receptors that bind with certain hormones (they're specific). If a cell does not have a receptor then it is not affected by hormones. Target cells (which do have the receptor for a particular hormone) would be affected by the hormone.
The tissue/cells need a receptor that can interact with that hormone in order to respond to it. This receptor may be on a cell membrane, inside the cell, or even inside the nucleus (in the case of steroid hormones, for example.) Like many organic chemicals in the body, they have structures which result in certain parts of the molecule being presented to cells (active sites). Because cells and tissue have different structures as well, only certain cells will react to the presence of a particular hormone. Many hormones have antagonist hormones that cause an opposite effect. This helps control negative feedback when the target organ's hormone levels are too high.
Tropic hormones act by stimulating the release of other hormones from target glands, which in turn produce a physiological response. Nontropic hormones directly bind to receptors on their target cells to initiate a cellular response without involving other hormones.
Target tissues or target cells are regions that are receptive to hormones. These tissues have specific receptors that bind with the hormones and trigger a response within the cell.