Final answer:
Prostaglandins are unsaturated fatty acids synthesized from arachidonic acid when needed by a cell. They act as local hormones and have various functions including regulating blood pressure, blood clotting, inflammation, gastric secretions, kidney functions, and reproductive activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prostaglandins are chemical messengers synthesized in the cells in which their physiological activity is expressed. They are unsaturated fatty acids containing 20 carbon atoms and are synthesized from arachidonic acid when needed by a particular cell.
Prostaglandins act as local hormones and are rapidly degraded. They affect almost all organs in the body and have various functions including regulating blood pressure, blood clotting, inflammation, gastric secretions, kidney functions, and reproductive activities.