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Endocrine Axis

Meaning

A sophisticated, hierarchical system of communication and regulation among multiple endocrine glands that controls specific physiological functions through the sequential release of hormones. This biological cascade involves the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, and a peripheral target gland, forming a feedback loop essential for maintaining systemic homeostasis. The most well-known examples, such as the HPA (stress) and HPG (reproductive) axes, illustrate the body’s precise mechanism for adaptive hormonal control. Dysfunction within any component of the axis can lead to widespread hormonal imbalance and clinical pathology.