Skip to main content

Endocrine System Sensitivity

Meaning

Endocrine system sensitivity defines the degree of responsiveness exhibited by hormone receptors and target cells to the circulating concentration of a specific hormone. Optimal sensitivity ensures that the body’s tissues react appropriately to normal hormonal signals, maintaining systemic homeostasis and metabolic efficiency. A clinically significant decrease in sensitivity, often termed resistance, requires a compensatory increase in hormone levels to elicit the same biological effect.