Hormone reaches here through bloodstream

  1. 15.2A: Mechanisms of Hormone Action
  2. Endocrine Hormones
  3. Hormones and the Endocrine System
  4. Endocrine System: What Is It, Functions, Organs & Conditions


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15.2A: Mechanisms of Hormone Action

\( \newcommand\) • • • • • • A hormone is a secreted chemical messenger that enables communication between cells and tissues throughout the body. Key Points • Hormones are released into the bloodstream through which they travel to target sites. • The target cell has receptors specific to a given hormone and will be activated by either a lipid-soluble (permeable to plasma membrane) or water-soluble hormone (binds to a cell-surface receptor). • Lipid-soluble hormones diffuse through the plasma membrane to enter the target cell and bind to a receptor protein. • Water-soluble hormones bind to a receptor protein on the plasma membrane of the cell. • Receptor stimulation results in a change in cell activity, which may send feedback to the original hormone-producing cell. Key Terms • Water-soluble hormone: A lipophobic hormone that binds to a receptor on, or within, the plasma membrane, to initiate an intracellular signaling cascade. • hormone: A molecule released by a cell or a gland in one part of the body that sends out messages affecting cells in other parts of the organism. • Lipid-soluble hormone: A lipophilic hormone that passes through the plasma membrane of a cell, binds to an intracellular receptor, and changes gene expression. A hormone is a chemical messenger that enables communication between cells. Hormones are secreted by the glands of the endocrine system and they serve to maintain homeostasis and to regulate numerous other systems and processes, including reprodu...

Endocrine Hormones

Hormones regulate internal functions from metabolism and growth to sexual development and the induction of birth. They circulate through the bloodstream, bind to target cells, and adjust the function of whole tissues and organs. It all starts with the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, the masters of the endocrine system. The hormones they release control the secretions of the other endocrine glands and most endocrine functions. Throughout the body, hormones enable reactions to stress and other outside changes and keep regular processes running smoothly. 1. Circulation: How Hormones Reach and Target Particular Cells Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. The hormones dissolve in plasma and travel the circulatory pathways through various body tissues. So why do hormones affect only their target cells in particular tissues? Because only those target cells have receptors for that particular hormone. Some hormones bind to receptors on the surface of target cells. Others enter the cells and bind to receptors in the cytoplasm or nucleus. The binding triggers a series of actions that change the physiologic behavior of the cell. In this way hormones can adjust the functions of whole organs and regulate total body processes such as metabolism and growth. 2. Directing from the Top: The Hypothalamus Sends Hormones to the Pituitary Gland to Control the Endocrine System The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland (which is also called the hypophysis) are part ...

Hormones and the Endocrine System

The endocrine system uses hormones to control and coordinate your body's internal metabolism (or homeostasis) energy level, reproduction, growth and development, and response to injury, stress, and environmental factors. Consider the following hormones and their role in the workings of the endocrine system: Where the hormone is produced Hormone(s) secreted Hormone function Adrenal glands Aldosterone Regulates salt,water balance, and blood pressure Adrenal glands Corticosteroid Controls key functions in the body; acts as an anti-inflammatory; maintains blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and muscle strength; regulates salt and water balance Pituitary gland Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) Affects water retention in kidneys; controls blood pressure Pituitary gland Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) Controls production of sex hormones (estrogen in women and testosterone in men) and the production of eggs in women and sperm in men. Pituitary gland Growth hormone (GH) Affects growth and development; stimulates protein production; affects fat distribution Pituitary gland Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) Controlsproduction of sex hormones (estrogen in women and testosterone in men) and the production of eggs in women and sperm in men Pituitary gland Oxytocin Stimulates contraction of uterus and milk ducts in the breast Pituitary gland Prolactin Initiates and maintains milk production in breasts; impacts sex hormone levels Pituitary gland Thyroid-s...

Endocrine System: What Is It, Functions, Organs & Conditions

The endocrine system is a network of glands and organs located throughout the body. It’s similar to the However, while the nervous system uses nerve impulses and neurotransmitters for communication, the endocrine system uses chemical messengers called hormones. Keep reading to discover more about the endocrine system, what it does, and the hormones it produces. The endocrine system is responsible for regulating a range of bodily functions through the release of hormones. Hormones are secreted by the glands of the endocrine system, traveling through the bloodstream to various organs and tissues in the body. The hormones then tell these organs and tissues what to do or how to function. Some examples of bodily functions that are controlled by the endocrine system include: • metabolism • growth and development • sexual function and reproduction • heart rate • blood pressure • appetite • sleeping and waking cycles • body temperature What is a gland? A • endocrine glands, which release hormones directly into the bloodstream • exocrine glands, like lymph nodes and sweat glands, which are not part of the endocrine system The glands of the endocrine system are where hormones are produced, stored, and released. Each gland produces one or more hormones, which go on to target specific organs and tissues in the body. The glands of the endocrine system include the: • Hypothalamus. While some people don’t consider it a gland, the • Pituitary. The • Pineal. This • Thyroid. The • Parathyro...