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Endocrine Adaptation

Meaning

Endocrine Adaptation describes the dynamic, physiological adjustments made by the endocrine system in response to persistent changes in the internal or external environment, such as chronic caloric restriction, sustained high-intensity exercise, or psychological stress. This adaptive capacity involves modifying the secretion, transport, or peripheral action of hormones to maintain systemic energy balance and promote survival under new conditions. A crucial clinical perspective is recognizing when a necessary physiological adaptation, such as the downregulation of the thyroid axis during starvation, becomes a pathological dysregulation that compromises long-term health. This concept underscores the inherent plasticity of the hormonal control system.