What are the hormones called that trigger various responses to stress and help restore homeostasis?

The hormones that trigger various responses to stress and assist in restoring homeostasis are known as glucocorticoid hormones. These hormones, such as cortisol, play a crucial role in the body's response to stress by regulating metabolism, immune response, and blood pressure, among other functions. When the body experiences stress, glucocorticoids are released from the adrenal cortex, helping to mobilize energy stores and suppress non-essential functions temporarily, which is vital for dealing with stressful situations.

While adrenaline, often associated with the immediate "fight or flight" response, also plays a significant role in stress responses, it primarily affects the body in the short term, increasing heart rate and enhancing energy availability rather than the longer-term adjustments to stress managed by glucocorticoids. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, primarily regulates mood and not directly involved in the hormonal stress response, and cortisol, although it is a glucocorticoid hormone itself, is just one of the hormones that fall under the glucocorticoid category. Therefore, the term glucocorticoid hormones encompasses the broader range of hormones responsible for managing stress and maintaining homeostasis.