ABSTRACT
As the functional component of the endocrine system, hormones are regulated by feedback mechanisms that infl uence their production and release from the gland. This feedback is mostly of the negative kind, i.e. a rise in the blood levels of the hormone causes the production and release of the hormone to fall. The opposite is also true, where low blood hormone levels allow greater production and release of the hormone. In this way, a stable blood level should be achieved. Such feedback mechanisms are a part of general homeostasis by which the body maintains a stable internal environment that promotes optimum function of its organs.
