RT Book, Section
A1 Barrett, Kim E.
A1 Barman, Susan M.
A1 Boitano, Scott
A1 Reckelhoff, Jane F.
SR Print(0)
ID 1142557283
T1 Endocrine & Reproductive Physiology: Introduction
T2 Ganong's Medical Physiology Examination & Board Review
YR 2017
FD 2017
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071832328
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1142557283
RD 2024/04/19
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.  Classic  endocrine  glands  are  scattered  throughout  the  body  and  secrete  hormones  into  the  circulatory  system.  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.  Neural  regulation,  on  the  other  hand,  is  often  exquisitely  spatially  delimited.  Nevertheless,  both  systems  must  work  collaboratively  to  allow  for  minute-to-minute  as  well  as  longer  term  stability  of  the  body’s  interior  milieu.