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Catabolism
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<h2 id="catabolic-hormones">Catabolic hormones</h2> <p>There are many signals that control catabolism. Most of the known signals are <a href="/facts/Hormone/WFnBnINJ">hormones</a> and the molecules involved in metabolism itself. <a href="/facts/Endocrinologist/4SqQu1NN">Endocrinologists</a> have traditionally classified many of the hormones as <a href="/facts/Anabolic/eH3Q5AHF">anabolic</a> or catabolic, depending on which part of metabolism they stimulate. The so-called classic catabolic hormones known since the early 20th century are <a href="/facts/Cortisol/5IvRV0cm">cortisol</a>, <a href="/facts/Glucagon/NVEnH03n">glucagon</a>, and <a href="/facts/Adrenaline/k7vvMI7E">adrenaline</a> (and other <a href="/facts/Catecholamine/hHFrCMgM">catecholamines</a>). In recent decades, many more hormones with at least some catabolic effects have been discovered, including <a href="/facts/Cytokine/SdWpWABH">cytokines</a>, <a href="/facts/Orexin/bHJMxntz">orexin</a> (known as <a href="/facts/Hypocretin/bHJMxntz">hypocretin</a>), and <a href="/facts/Melatonin/LEyEWg18">melatonin</a>. </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Hormone</th><th>Function<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a></th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Cortisol/5IvRV0cm">Cortisol</a></td><td>Released from the <a href="/facts/Adrenal_gland/3f8jV5aJ">adrenal gland</a> in response to stress; its main role is to increase blood <a href="/facts/Glucose/oUSkoLCD">glucose</a> levels by <a href="/facts/Gluconeogenesis/Jj5THIHh">gluconeogenesis</a>.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Glucagon/NVEnH03n">Glucagon</a></td><td>Released from alpha cells in the <a href="/facts/Pancreas/r0WPGjAq">pancreas</a> either when starving or when the body needs to generate additional energy; it stimulates the breakdown of <a href="/facts/Glycogen/kWa8fPFE">glycogen</a> in the <a href="/facts/Liver/Rtp4Fk2b">liver</a> to increase blood glucose levels; its effect is the opposite of <a href="/facts/Insulin/oXG0myt1">insulin</a>; glucagon and insulin are a part of a <a href="/facts/Negative_feedback/G9byVgpN">negative-feedback</a> system that stabilizes blood glucose levels.</td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Adrenaline/k7vvMI7E">Adrenaline</a></td><td>Released in response to the activation of the <a href="/facts/Sympathetic_nervous_system/hs8psNRd">sympathetic nervous system</a>; increases heart rate and heart contractility, <a href="/facts/Vasoconstriction/9hdY0aR2">constricts</a> blood vessels, is a <a href="/facts/Bronchodilator/IQMu7bra">bronchodilator</a> that opens (dilates) the <a href="/facts/Bronchus/t83cUXou">bronchi</a> of the <a href="/facts/Lung/gTWXI6Fj">lungs</a> to increase air volume and oxygen supply in the lungs, and stimulates <a href="/facts/Gluconeogenesis/Jj5THIHh">gluconeogenesis</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="etymology">Etymology</h2> <p>The word <i>catabolism</i> is from <a href="/facts/Neo-Latin/mbBrTVEd">Neo-Latin</a>, which got the roots from <a href="/facts/Ancient_Greek/LIK7NlUh">Greek</a>: κάτω <i>kato</i>, "downward" and βάλλειν <i>ballein</i>, "to throw". </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Autophagy/kJC4QM9l">Autophagy</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Dehydration_synthesis/dTAxlyRX">Dehydration synthesis</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Hydrolysis/JTvwIHPs">Hydrolysis</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Nocturnal_post_absorptive_catabolism/0bSDElWc">Nocturnal post absorptive catabolism</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Psilacetin/wzxVfj3Q">Psilacetin § Pharmacology</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Sarcopenia/qFyDWCXc">Sarcopenia</a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li> Media related to Catabolism at Wikimedia Commons</li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>de Bolster, M.W.G. (1997). "Glossary of Terms Used in Bioinorganic Chemistry: Catabolism". International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry. Archived from the original on 2017-01-21. Retrieved 2007-10-30. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170121172848/http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iupac/bioinorg/CD.html#8#8" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20170121172848/http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iupac/bioinorg/CD.html#8#8</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license. Betts, J Gordon; Desaix, Peter; Johnson, Eddie; Johnson, Jody E; Korol, Oksana; Kruse, Dean; Poe, Brandon; Wise, James; Womble, Mark D; Young, Kelly A (June 8, 2023). Anatomy & Physiology. Houston: OpenStax CNX. 24.1 Overview of metabolic reactions. ISBN 978-1-947172-04-3. <a href="978-1-947172-04-3" target="_blank">978-1-947172-04-3</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>