Question

Hormones' release is strictly controlled in the body. Different mechanisms trigger the release of hormones.
Write an essay explaining the different biological processes that cause an endocrine gland to release a hormone. Explain also the mechanism that inhibits hormones’ secretion in the body.
Please write 500 words

Answer 1

Hormones are the chemicals produced by our body which travels throughout the body. These are the chemical messengers which is produced and released by different endocrine gland. These are released to the bloodstream so that it reaches the target site and regulates the function and behaviour of the target site. Every specific hormone is specific to the target site and its function. Release of these hormones causes or regulates many of the complex processes in our body like growth, metabolism etc. Hormones takes only a very small amount to cause huge changes in your whole body, that is why both defeciency and excess causes great threats.

There are different types of endocrine glands like Hypothalamus, Pituatory gland, pineal gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, adrenal gland, pancreas , reproductive glands ( ovaries and testes ). All these glands produces hormones. Nervous system also produces certain hormones.

Negative feedback is the major mechanism of hormomne production and release. In negative feedback, a signal or stimulus triggers the production of particular substance and when the substance reaches a maximum level or threshold level, it sends a signal or feedback to inhibit the further production of the same substance. This is what happens in hormone production too, once it reaches the required level, signal is send to stop the release of the hormone.

There are mainly 3 mechanisms that stimulates endocrine gland to synthesise and release hormones, they are: Humeral stimuli,hormonal stimuli,and neural stimuli.

Humeral stimuli is when the hormones are released in response to changes that occured in extracellular fluids like blood. These changes can be ion concentration changes, temperature changes, or change in levels of certain chemicals etc. So, when such changes are observed in the body fluid, specific hormones will be released by the glands. Production of insulin by pacreas is an example of humeral stimuli, here the rise in blood glucose level triggers the production of insulin.

Hormonal stimuli is when hormones are produced in response to other hormones. Here hypothalamus plays an important role, it is a small part found in the brain. When certain parts of the body send signals to brain about any imbalances or abnormalities, brain sends signal to hypothalamus. Hypothalamus has two sets of nerve cells in it which brings in the signals and stimulates the production of hormones. Hypothalamus ,then synthesis hormones in response to these signals. Hormones from hypothalamus stimulates the anterior portion of pituatory gland to produce right hormones which inturn controls the production and release all other hormones of all other endocrine glands. Hypothalamus will produce both Releasing hormones and Inhibitng hormones, all other hormones are controlled by these hormones produced by hypothalamus.

Neural stimuli is when hormones are produced in response to signals send by nervous system. In some cases, instead of sending sigals to hypothalamus, nervous system directly sends the signals to glands to produce hormones.

Hormone secretion is inhibited in the body due to the INhibitiinh hormones produced by Hypothalamus. THese inhibiting ormones inhibits or stops the production of certain hormones. THis happens in response to various signals recieved by hypothalamus.