Final answer:
Hormones are released into the blood by endocrine glands and are crucial for maintaining homeostasis by acting as chemical messenger molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hormones are secreted and released into the blood by endocrine glands. These glands are groups of cells that release chemical signals into the intercellular fluid to be picked up and transported to their target organs by blood. Hormones are chemical messenger molecules secreted by a gland of the endocrine system into the blood, functioning to maintain homeostasis within the body.
An endocrine hormone is released in response to a stimulus, travels through the body, and then binds to receptors of the target cell to elicit a response. Common examples of endocrine organs include the pancreas, adrenal glands, and thyroid gland, which secrete insulin, epinephrine, and thyroid hormones, respectively.