Testosterone

Hormones are chemical substances produced in the body by specialized glands and transported through the bloodstream to act on certain tissues and influence their activity. The hormone testosterone has many important biological functions throughout life, from conception through old age. This entry describes the functions of testosterone and its influence on development throughout the life span.

General functions of testosterone include the development of male physical appearance and sexual characteristics through puberty and their maintenance in adult life. Testosterone also plays a role in bone and muscle development, metabolism, brain, and function of the cardiovascular system. Testosterone is a member of the family of steroid hormones, which is synthesized and secreted mainly by the testes in men, whose major action is mediated through stimulation of the ...