When the hormone epinephrine binds to receptors on the surface of a heart muscle cell, a new molecule, called cyclic AMP, is produced. Cyclic AMP then causes the heart muscle cells to contract more strongly, increasing blood flow throughout the body. In this example, cyclic AMP is acting as a(n)

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Cyclic AMP acts as a second messenger in this scenario, relaying the signal from the hormone epinephrine, which binds to the cell surface, to the internal processes of the cell that result in a stronger contraction of the heart muscle cells.

When the Hormone Epinephrine Binds to Receptors on the Surface