Final answer:
Hormones are classified into three groups: lipid-derived, amino acid-derived, and peptide hormones. Amino acid-derived hormones include melatonin, thyroid hormones, and catecholamines like epinephrine and norepinephrine, which serve various regulatory functions within the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
Types of Hormones Based on Chemical Structure
Hormones in the human body can be categorized based on their chemical structure into lipid-derived, amino acid-derived, and peptide hormones.
Amino acid-derived hormones, like those synthesized from tryptophan or tyrosine, are relatively small molecules. Melatonin, derived from tryptophan, regulates circadian rhythms.
Tyrosine derivatives include thyroid hormones and catecholamines such as epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and dopamine, which are involved in various physiological functions like metabolism regulation and the fight-or-flight response.
Classification of Amino Acid-derived Hormones
Amino acid-derived hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine are typically synthesized after the amino acid's original structure is modified by removing the carboxyl group (-COOH) while retaining the amine group (-NH2).
Hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine are produced by the adrenal glands and are involved in managing stress responses, whereas hormones like thyroxine, produced by the thyroid gland, are crucial for regulating metabolism.