Video Transcript
Once released from endocrine
glands, hormones will travel in the bloodstream and bind to specific receptors on
the cells of particular organs within the body. What term is given to these
organs? (A) Sensory organs, (B) receptive
organs, (C) selected organs, or (D) target organs.
This question asks about some
terminology we use to describe the human endocrine system, which is made up of
endocrine glands. Hormones are chemical messengers
that are produced by the cells in endocrine glands and released into the bloodstream
in order to modulate the activity of other cells, particular organs, or even other
endocrine glands.
So what is the correct term for the
organs these hormones are destined for? The correct terminology is target
organs. Within these organs, a target cell
responds to specific hormones because it has receptors for this specific chemical
messenger. Depending on the type of hormone,
the receptors are either located at the surface of the cell or within the cell. The binding of the hormone to its
receptor triggers a cascade of reactions within the cell that modulates its
function. In contrast, cells that do not have
such types of receptors will not respond to the hormones as they are not the
target. This system of hormonal receptors
on target cells enables a specific action of hormones on certain target organs.
With the information we have
learned, we can answer this question correctly. The particular organs whose cells
hormones bind to are known as (D) target organs.
