What it means
Endorphins act on the same receptors as opioid drugs. The body releases them during pain, stress, exercise and laughter. Non-drug comfort measures, such as exercise and massage, may work partly by releasing them.
Remember it
Endorphin = endogenous (made inside the body) morphine.
At a glance
| Spanish | endorfina |
|---|---|
| Also written | endorphins |
Related terms
opioid analgesic
A strong drug that relieves moderate to severe pain by acting on the brain and spinal cord.
analgesic
A drug that relieves pain.
neurotransmitter
A chemical that a nerve cell releases to pass a signal to another nerve, muscle or gland cell.