Which physiological process do hormones primarily influence?

Hormones primarily influence metabolism and growth because they are key regulators of various physiological processes that control how the body utilizes energy and develops. Metabolism refers to the chemical reactions that occur within the body to convert food into energy, while growth involves the processes that enable organisms to increase in size and develop over time. Hormones like insulin, glucagon, and growth hormone play critical roles in these functions, coordinating the internal changes necessary for maintaining homeostasis.

While reproductive processes and movement are also regulated by hormones, they are more specific areas of influence. For example, reproductive hormones control development of secondary sexual characteristics and regulate the menstrual cycle, while hormones affecting movement, such as adrenaline, can influence immediate responses to stimuli but do not govern movement in the same fundamental way that metabolic processes do.

Thus, metabolism and growth represent a broader and more fundamental set of processes that are directly controlled by hormones, making this the most fitting answer.