endocrine signaling

(noun)

signals from distant cells that originate from endocrine cells, usually producing a slow response, but having a long-lasting effect

Related Terms

  • paracrine signaling
  • autocrine signaling

Examples of endocrine signaling in the following topics:

  • Forms of Signaling

    • The major types of signaling mechanisms that occur in multicellular organisms are paracrine, endocrine, autocrine, and direct signaling.
    • There are four categories of chemical signaling found in multicellular organisms: paracrine signaling, endocrine signaling, autocrine signaling, and direct signaling across gap junctions .
    • Signals from distant cells are called endocrine signals; they originate from endocrine cells.
    • In chemical signaling, a cell may target itself (autocrine signaling), a cell connected by gap junctions, a nearby cell (paracrine signaling), or a distant cell (endocrine signaling).
    • Paracrine signaling acts on nearby cells, endocrine signaling uses the circulatory system to transport ligands, and autocrine signaling acts on the signaling cell.
  • Comparing the Nervous and Endocrine Systems

    • The nervous system and endocrine system both use chemical messengers to signal cells, but the speed of transmission is different.
    • If you see a bear, your eyes send signals through your brain that eventually lead to the release of hormones, including adrenaline, from the endocrine system.
    • Both the nervous system and the endocrine system use chemical messengers to signal cells, but the speed at which these messages are transmitted is different.
    • The endocrine system relies on hormones to elicit responses from their target cells.
    • This process takes significantly longer than that of the nervous system, as endocrine hormones must first be synthesized, transported to their target cell, and enter or signal the cell.
  • The Endocrine System

    • Both the nervous and endocrine systems send messages everywhere inside the human body.
    • In the nervous system, signals travel very quickly, leading to instantaneous responses.
    • However, within the endocrine system, signals move slowly but last longer.
    • Hormones are chemicals within the endocrine system that affect physiological activity.
    • There are eight major endocrine glands, each with a different function.
  • Hormone Functions

    • The endocrine system plays a role in growth, metabolism, and other processes by releasing hormones into the blood.
    • Target cells, those having a receptor for a signal, respond to a hormone when they express a specific receptor for that hormone.
    • Different tissue types may also respond differently to the same hormonal signal.
    • In humans, common endocrine system diseases include thyroid disease and diabetes mellitus.
    • In organisms that undergo metamorphosis, the process is controlled by the endocrine system.
  • Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

    • The endocrine system uses chemical signals to communicate and regulate the body's physiology.
    • The collection of these glands makes up the endocrine system.
    • The hypothalamus in vertebrates integrates the endocrine and nervous systems.
    • The posterior pituitary receives signals via neurosecretory cells to release hormones produced by the hypothalamus.
    • They are released into the circulatory system via neural signaling from the hypothalamus.
  • Target Cell Specificity

    • In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to another.
    • Endocrine hormone molecules are secreted (released) directly into the bloodstream or simply diffuse through the interstitial spaces to nearby target tissues.
    • Receptors are protein molecules to which one or more specific kinds of signaling molecules may attach.
    • Endocrine action: the hormone is distributed in blood and binds to distant target cells.
  • Control of the Pituitary Gland by the Hypothalamus

    • Whilst the pituitary gland is known as the 'master' endocrine gland, both of the lobes are under the control of the hypothalamus; the anterior pituitary receives its signals from the parvocellular neurons and the posterior pituitary receives its signals from magnocellular neurons.
    • It allows endocrine communication between the two structures.
    • Using these, the anterior pituitary is able to fulfill its function of regulating the other endocrine glands.
  • Glandular Epithelia

    • Glandular epithelium contains glands, either exocrine or endocrine, allowing for secretory function.
    • Exocrine and endocrine epithelial cells are highly vascular.
    • There are two major classifications of glands: endocrine glands and exocrine glands.
    • An endocrine gland is its counterpart.
    • It secretes its essential product without the use of a duct directly into the bloodstream or else by diffusion into its surrounding tissue (paracrine signaling) where it often affects only target cells near the release site.
  • Humoral, Hormonal, and Neural Stimuli

    • Insulin causes blood glucose levels to drop, which signals the pancreas to stop producing insulin.
    • A number of endocrine glands release hormones when stimulated by hormones released by other endocrine glands.
    • The anterior pituitary, in turn, releases hormones that regulate hormone production by other endocrine glands.
    • In some cases, the nervous system directly stimulates endocrine glands to release hormones, which is referred to as neural stimuli.
    • Here, neuronal signaling from the sympathetic nervous system directly stimulates the adrenal medulla to release the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine in response to stress.
  • Mechanisms of Hormone Action

    • Hormones are secreted by the glands of the endocrine system and they serve to maintain homeostasis and to regulate reproduction and development.
    • Glands of the endocrine system secrete hormones directly into the extracellular environment.
    • Hormone cells are typically of a specialized cell type, residing within a particular endocrine gland, such as thyroid gland, ovaries, and testes.
    • As a result, hormonal signaling is elaborate and hard to dissect.
    • Relay and amplification of the received hormonal signal via a signal transduction process
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