Introduction Flashcards
What do the nervous and endocrine systems do together?
The nervous and endocrine systems act together to coordinate the functions of all the body systems.
what does the nervous system trigger and by what?
The nervous system through action potentials triggers the release of mediator (messenger) molecules called neurotransmitters.
how does the endocrine system control the body activities?
The endocrine system also controls body activities by releasing mediators, sometimes called hormones.
What is a hormone?
hormone (hormone = to excite or get moving) is a mediator molecule that is released in one part of the body but regulates the activity of cells in other parts of the body.
What do most hormones do and what do we call this mode of discharge?
Most hormones enter the interstitial fluid and then the bloodstream. Blood delivers hormones throughout the body. This mode of discharge (directly into the bloodstream) is called endocrine secretion.
what does the meaning of the term hormone extend to us?
The meaning of the term hormone has been extended beyond the original definition of a blood-borne secretion, however, to include similar regulatory substances that are distributed by diffusion across cell membranes instead of by a blood system.
how do hormones exert their effects?
Hormones exert their effects by binding to receptors on or in their target cells.
