Definition: Endorphins are hormones produced by the central nervous system and the pituitary gland. They act as natural painkillers and are also associated with feelings of pleasure and euphoria. Endorphins are released in response to pain or stress and are well-known for their role in producing a ‘runner’s high’ during intense exercise.
Etymology and Origin: The term ‘endorphin’ combines ‘endogenous’, meaning produced within the body, from the Greek ‘endon’, meaning ‘within’, and ‘morphine‘, named after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams, reflecting its pain-relieving and sleep-inducing properties. Essentially, ‘endorphin’ means a morphine-like substance originating from within the body. The term was coined in the 1970s following the discovery of these natural opiate-like substances.
