Final answer:
The endocrine system releases hormones into the bloodstream, while exocrine glands release substances onto body surfaces through ducts. The endocrine system and nervous system work together to maintain homeostasis. The thyroid gland is stimulated to release hormones through a negative feedback mechanism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The endocrine system is a system of glands that release chemical messenger molecules called hormones into the bloodstream. Other glands, called exocrine glands, release substances onto nearby body surfaces through ducts.
The endocrine and nervous systems work together to maintain homeostasis and adjust physiological activity when external or internal environmental conditions change. The nervous system works by generating action potentials along neurons; the endocrine system uses chemical messengers called hormones that are released from glands, travel to target cells, and elicit a response by the target cell.
The thyroid gland is one of the endocrine glands that interacts with the nervous system. It is stimulated to release hormones, specifically T3 and T4, through a negative feedback mechanism. When there are high levels of T3 and T4 in the peripheral tissues, they inhibit the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the pituitary gland, which in turn reduces the stimulation of the thyroid gland to release more hormones.