: Most endocrine functions are controlled by negative feedback , where the body's response to a hormone signal eventually turns off the original stimulus to maintain stability.

: Cortisol (adrenal glands) coordinates the "fight or flight" response.

: Growth hormone (pituitary) and sex hormones drive physical development and puberty.

Physiology, Endocrine Hormones - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

: While the "classical" pathway involves hormones traveling through the blood, they can also act on nearby cells ( paracrine ) or even the secreting cell itself ( autocrine ).

: The system includes the Hypothalamus , Pituitary, Thyroid, Adrenal glands, Pancreas, and gonads (ovaries and testes). Core Functions :