Endocrine Feedback Control describes the self-regulatory loops through which the endocrine system maintains hormonal concentrations within a narrow, functional range necessary for physiological stability. This process ensures that hormone secretion is appropriately matched to the body’s current needs, preventing both deficiency and excess. It is the cornerstone of endocrine homeostasis.
Origin
The concept originates from systems engineering, where ‘feedback’ describes the process where the output of a system is routed back as input to modulate the system’s operation. In physiology, ‘endocrine’ relates to internal secretion directly into the bloodstream. This mechanism allows the body to respond dynamically to internal and external changes.
Mechanism
The most common mechanism is negative feedback, where an elevated concentration of a target hormone inhibits the release of its own stimulating hormones from upstream glands, such as the pituitary or hypothalamus. For example, high cortisol suppresses CRH and ACTH secretion, thus modulating the entire HPA axis response. Positive feedback loops, though rarer, exist to drive rapid physiological events like ovulation.
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