Hormones that bind to cytoplasmic receptors are nonpolar. Nonpolar hormones can pass through the nonpolar phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane, while polar hormones cannot pass through the cell membrane and must bind to receptors on the surface of the cell. Steroids are nonpolar hormones while peptide hormones are polar hormones. Estrogen is a steroid, and is therefore the correct answer.

Transmembrane receptors are only needed for molecules that CANNOT pass through the cell membrane. Growth hormone, insulin, calcitriol, and secretin are examples of molecules that cannot pass the cell membrane. Their respective receptors are transmembrane receptors. Cortisol, on the other hand, is a cholesterol derivative and can pass through the cell membrane due to its hydrophobic elements. Therefore cortisol receptors are not transmembrane receptors.

Thyroid hormone is one the few hormones that are derived from a single amino acid, in this case tyrosine. Amino acids (and subsequently their derivatives) are mostly hydrophilic, and are unable to pass through the cell membrane. They must bind to surface receptors in order to initiate their effects on the cell.

Understanding the difference between peptide hormones and glucocorticoids is important in answering this question. Peptide hormones function through cell surface receptors, and usually subsequent G-protein regulated signal amplification. Glucocorticoid hormones generally function by modifying gene expression directly in the nucleus. Generally, peptide hormones end with the suffix -in, while glucocorticoids end with -one or -en. Using this information we see that renin would be a peptide hormone and would therefore function through cell surface receptors.

Peptide hormones rely on a secondary messager system, such as cyclic AMP, to perform their functions on target cells/organs. Of the available answer choices, insulin, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) are peptide hormones, and are therefore incorrect.

Steroid hormones have intracellular receptors and can enter cells directly to cause changes in transcription rates, which result in their effects. Estrogen is a steroid hormone, and thus does NOT use a secondary messanger system.

Somatotropin, or human growth hormone, is responsible for both bone and cartilage growth. It is the main factor in human growth, up until puberty.

Calcitonin decreases blood calcium level. All other answer choices correctly pair a hormone with its function.

Acute high blood pressure is generally due to systemic vasoconstriction. Of the answer choices, only activating the alpha-1 receptor will elicit peripheral vasoconstriction.  

As mentioned from the passage, steroid hormones must pass through the lipid bilayer in order to reach the nucleus. Phosphoinositol bisphosphate and calmodulin are both secondary messengers as part of the G protein-coupled receptor pathway.