Which type of hormone is responsible for long-distance communication within the body?

Hormones are chemical messengers produced by the endocrine glands and released into the bloodstream, allowing them to travel throughout the body and exert their effects on various target tissues and organs. This long-distance communication is essential for regulating many physiological processes, such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, and responses to stress.

Unlike neurotransmitters, which are released at synapses to transmit signals over short distances between nerve cells, hormones can influence cells and tissues that are located far from their site of production. Additionally, pheromones are secreted to communicate between individuals of the same species, typically in relation to behaviors like mating or territory marking, and are therefore not involved in internal body communication. Hormonelike substances, while they may share some functions with hormones, do not define the primary mechanism of long-distance signaling used by the endocrine system.

Thus, hormones are the key players in ensuring that organs and systems can coordinate and respond effectively to maintain homeostasis across the entire body.