RT Book, Section A1 Hilal-Dandan, Randa A1 Brunton, Laurence L. SR Print(0) ID 1127551899 T1 Introduction to Endocrinology: The Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis T2 Goodman and Gilman's Manual of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2e YR 2016 FD 2016 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071769174 LK hemonc.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1127551899 RD 2024/03/29 AB Endocrinology analyzes the biosynthesis of hormones, their sites of production, and the sites and mechanisms of their action and interaction. The major functions of hormones include the regulation of energy storage, production, and utilization; the adaptation to new environments or conditions of stress; the facilitation of growth and development; and the maturation and function of the reproductive system. Although hormones were originally defined as products of ductless glands, we now appreciate that many organs not classically considered as "endocrine" (e.g., the heart, kidneys, GI tract, adipocytes, and brain) synthesize and secrete hormones that play key physiological roles. In addition, the field of endocrinology has expanded to include the actions of growth factors acting by means of autocrine and paracrine mechanisms, the influence of neurons—particularly those in the hypothalamus—that regulate endocrine function, and the reciprocal interactions of cytokines and other components of the immune system with the endocrine system.