The endocrine system uses endogenous chemicals called hormones to help maintain internal homeostasis. A hormone is generally thought of as a chemical messenger released into the bloodstream to act on target cells located some distance from the site of release of the hormone. Different endocrine glands make and release specific hormones that help regulate physiological processes such as reproduction, growth and development, energy metabolism, fluid and electrolyte balance, and stress response. straight and traumatized.
The use of drugs that regulate and help regulate endocrine function is an important area of pharmacology. In a sense, hormones can be thought of as drugs made from the patient's body. This situation provides a clear opportunity for exogenous chemicals to be used to mimic or mitigate the effects of certain hormones during endocrine dysfunction.