Final answer:
Cells can signal to each other through different methods such as endocrine, paracrine, and neuronal signaling. Endocrine cells send signals that reach the entire body through the bloodstream, while paracrine signaling acts locally on nearby cells. Neuronal signaling involves the conversion of electrical impulses into a chemical signal. Cells receive signals through receptors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cells can signal to each other in various ways. A signal that must be relayed to the entire body is most efficiently sent by endocrine cells, which produce hormones that are carried throughout the body through the bloodstream. On the other hand, paracrine methods of cell signaling do not require the release of a secreted molecule and are used for very localized signaling events. During paracrine signaling, the signal remains in the neighborhood of the secreting cell and thus acts as a local mediator on nearby cells. Finally, neuronal signaling involves the conversion of electrical impulses into a chemical signal. Cells receive signals through a receptor, which can be an integral membrane protein or can reside inside the cell.