Figure 49-4 Feedback Loop regulates hormone levels
Anatomy and Physiology Review of the Endocrine System
In order to fully understand how the endocrine system works, it helps to review the anatomy and physiology of the endocrine system. Chapter 49 gives a nice, brief review of the A&P of the endocrine system. Please review. The various glands will be briefly described in the next section.
It is important to understand that the Endocrine system works on a feedback loop, which is a "mechanism that turns hormone production off and on to keep concentrations of hormones within a stable range at all times" (Timby & Smith, 2013, p. 750). The feedback can be either positive or negative meaning that if one hormone level is too high it is positive feedback, if one hormone level is too low that is negative feedback. Understand that most hormones are secreted when there is negative feedback and not when there is positive feedback. Most endocrine disorders occur when there is an imbalance: either overproduction or underproduction of specific hormones (Timby & Smith, 2013, p. 750).