Part of “CHAPTER 1 – ENDOCRINOLOGY AND THE ENDOCRINE PATIENT“

A sophisticated and faultless machinery is required for appropriate hormonal expression. The hormonal messenger is subject to modifications that may occur anywhere from its initial synthesis to its final arrival at its target site. Subsequently, the expression of the message at this site (i.e., its action) may also be modified (see Chap. 4). The modulations or alterations of the hormonal message or its final action may be physiologic or pathologic. Table 1-1 summarizes some of the normal and abnormal modulations of a hormonal message and its subsequent metabolic effects.