The Endocrine System

Long with the nervous System , the Endocrine , or hormonal, System is the primary regula-tory mechanism for virtually the entirehuman body. Hormones are chemicalmessengers that control and coordi-nate the function of tissues and hormone is secreted from a partic-ulargland and distributed throughoutthe body to act on different are released as a resultof nerve impulses or in response tospecific physiological or biochemicalevents. Following their release, hor-mones instigate a cascade of reactionswithin the body, the end result ofwhich can include synthesis and re-lease of enzymes and changes in cellmembranes. Highly sensitive feed-back mechanisms reduce or increasethe amount of different hormonesbeing released at any given effects of alcohol on endocrinefunction are multiple and variables, including the type,length, and pattern of alcohol expo-sure; level of intoxication; and coex-isting medical problems, such asmalnutrition and liver dysfunction,must be considered when assessingthe impact of alcohol on hormonalstatus.

Metabolic effects ACTH + + + Figure 1 The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In response to almost any type of stress, either physical or psychological, the hypothalamus secretes corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), which in turn increases secretion of adrenocortotropic hormone (ACTH) by the anterior pituitary gland. In

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  System, Endocrine, Metabolic, Endocrine system

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