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Basics

Messages through the bloodstream

Trace a hormone from an endocrine gland to a responsive target.

A gland icon releases small hormone symbols into a curved blood-vessel channel ending beside a target-cell membrane with matching receptors. — View full screen Download the infographic

The picture in words

Release: An endocrine gland releases a hormone.
Transport: The bloodstream carries the chemical signal.
Response: Cells with suitable receptors can respond.

Reading the illustration

Follow hormone symbols through the bloodstream to a cell with a matching receptor. The drawing enlarges the parts to show their relationship.

Try a question

What helps determine which cells respond to a hormone?

Show the explanation

The cells need receptors that can interact with that signal. Receptor properties and cellular processes help shape the response.

Read the sources

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/3-5-the-endocrine-systemSelected rendered passages: Opening gland/hormone receptor passages.

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