What are endogenous morphine-like substances that help control pain called?

Endogenous morphine-like substances that help control pain are called enkephalins. These are small peptides that function as neurotransmitters and are part of the body's natural pain management system. They bind to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, similar to how morphine and other opioids work, leading to the alleviation of pain.

Enkephalins play a significant role in modulating pain perception and can help reduce the sensation of pain by inhibiting the transmission of pain signals and enhancing feelings of well-being. The body produces these substances naturally in response to stress or injury, which is crucial for survival as it helps manage pain levels in critical situations.

Other options like bradykinins, prostaglandins, and peptides do have roles in pain processing or inflammation, but they do not act as morphine-like substances. Bradykinin is involved in the promotion of pain and inflammatory processes, prostaglandins are lipid compounds that mediate inflammation and pain, and while peptides encompass a broad category that includes several types of molecules, not all peptides function in the same way as enkephalins do in pain control. Thus, the specific nature of enkephalins as endogenous opioids makes them the correct answer to the question