What are receptors for a particular hormone called?

• A. Endocrine glands
• B. Pheromones
• C. Target cells
• D. Hormones

Answer: (C)

Receptors for a hormone are the target cells’ specific binding sites that recognize and bind that hormone to produce a response. Only cells with the matching receptor respond to a given hormone, so they’re called target cells. Endocrine glands are where hormones are produced and released, not where the signal is received. Pheromones are external chemical signals between organisms, not the receptors for a hormone. Hormones are the signaling molecules themselves, while the receptors are the proteins on target cells that detect them.