ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in the blood.

Detailed explanation-2: -Hormones travel throughout the body, either in the blood stream or in the fluid around cells, looking for target cells. Once hormones find a target cell, they bind with specific protein receptors inside or on the surface of the cell and specifically change the cell’s activities.

Detailed explanation-3: -Hormones are “cleared” from the plasma in several ways, including (1) metabolic destruction by the tissues, (2) binding with the tissues, (3) excretion by the liver into the bile, and (4) excretion by the kidneys into the urine.

Detailed explanation-4: -Hormonal transport-some hormones can travel freely in the blood because they are water soluble (hydrophilic). The steroid hormones, being fat soluble (hydrophobic), must be bound to and carried around by transport proteins (like albumin and globulins which are blood proteins produced by the liver).