TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Endocrine & Reproductive Physiology: Introduction A1 - Barrett, Kim E. A1 - Barman, Susan M. A1 - Boitano, Scott A1 - Brooks, Heddwen L. Y1 - 2018 N1 - T2 - Ganong’s Review of Medical Physiology, 25e AB - The role of the endocrine system is to maintain whole body homeostasis. This is accomplished via the coordination of hormonal signaling pathways that regulate cellular activity in target organs throughout the body. Endocrine mechanisms are also concerned with the ability of humans to reproduce, and the sexual maturation required for this function. Classic endocrine glands are scattered throughout the body and secrete hormones into the circulatory system, usually via ductless secretion into the interstitial fluid. Target organs express receptors that bind the specific hormone to initiate a cellular response. The endocrine system can be contrasted with the neural regulation of physiologic function that was the focus of the previous section. Endocrine effectors typically provide “broadcast” regulation of multiple tissues and organs simultaneously, with specificity provided for by the expression of relevant receptors. A change in environmental conditions, for example, often calls for an integrated response across many organ systems. Neural regulation, on the other hand, is often exquisitely spatially delimited, such as the ability to contract just a single muscle. Nevertheless, both systems must work collaboratively to allow for minute-to-minute as well as longer term stability of the body’s interior milieu. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1115829663 ER -