Fiducia TogetherHormones
Chemical messengers in the blood. Slower than nerves, and longer lasting.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
Hormones are chemicals secreted by endocrine glands into the bloodstream, acting on target organs. The pituitary is the master gland.
Where it applies
GCSE biology and combined science.
How it works
Key hormones: insulin and glucagon for blood glucose, adrenaline for the fight-or-flight response, thyroxine for metabolic rate, and oestrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH in the menstrual cycle.
The menstrual cycle and contraception are examined together, as is diabetes.
How to use it in your work
For diabetes, be precise: type 1 is insufficient insulin production and is treated with insulin; type 2 is cells not responding to insulin and is managed by diet, exercise and sometimes medication.
For the menstrual cycle, learn which hormone does what and where it is produced. Questions ask for both.
Where to get help
Your teacher, your board's specification for the depth required at your tier, and Bitesize for the diagrams.
Revise this with a song
These are ours. We write revision songs because a lot of people remember a tune when they cannot remember a page, and because revising out loud in the kitchen beats staring at a highlighter.
- The Biology Song The GCSE biology specification, set to music.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.