Hormones (from Greek ὁρμή - "impetus") are chemicals release by cells that affect cells in other parts of the body. Only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism.It is also a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to another. All multicellular organisms produce hormones; plant hormones are also called phytohormones. Hormones in animals are often transported in the blood. Cells respond to a hormone when they express a specific receptor for that hormone. The hormone binds to the receptor protein, resulting in the activation of a signal transduction mechanism that ultimately leads to cell type-specific responses.