What term describes the chemicals that control various functions in the body, including metabolism and growth?

Hormones are the chemicals that play a crucial role in regulating multiple bodily functions, including metabolism, growth, and development. They are produced by various glands throughout the endocrine system and circulate through the bloodstream to target organs and tissues, where they exert their effects. Hormones help maintain homeostasis, influence energy balance, and play significant roles in reproductive processes, stress responses, and mood regulation.

Other options, while important in biological processes, have different functions. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to identify and neutralize foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. Enzymes are catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body, facilitating processes such as digestion and metabolism but not regulating them directly. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses in the nervous system, impacting functions like mood and cognition but not directly regulating physiological functions like metabolism or growth in the way hormones do. Therefore, hormones specifically refer to the regulatory chemicals aptly described in the question.