Question

The Endocrine System relies upon receptors for the hormones to have an effect on the cells. Which of the following scenarios is this most similar to?

(A) A professor only has students show up to his office hours right before an exam.
(B) A tablet needs to hook up to WiFi before it can access social media.
(C) A cell phone can play a few games, even when it is not getting any bars of reception.
(D) A dog will only come back to its owner when it gets too cold to stay outside.

Answer 1

The endocrine system's function is most similar to a tablet needing WiFi to access social media because specific hormone receptors are necessary for hormone action, much like WiFi is necessary for a tablet to perform online-related tasks. So, the correct answer is option b.

Step-by-step explanation:

The endocrine system's reliance on receptors to mediate hormonal effects on target cells is most similar to scenario (B): A tablet needs to hook up to WiFi before it can access social media. This analogy is appropriate because just as a tablet requires a connection to WiFi to perform certain tasks, target cells also require specific hormone receptors to respond to circulating hormones. Without these receptors, the hormone cannot elicit a cellular response, akin to how a tablet without WiFi cannot access online services.

Hormones mediate changes in target cells by binding to specific hormone receptors. Endocrine hormones like estrogen travel through the bloodstream and only affect cells that have the necessary receptors. This concept is crucial for homeostasis, as hormones regulate functions by triggering responses in target cells that lead to actions at the organ or systemic level.

Factors such as down-regulation and up-regulation affect target cell response by changing the number of hormone receptors or receptor sensitivity. This alteration can make cells more or less reactive to hormonal signals, ensuring the appropriate physiological activities are adjusted accordingly.

So, the correct answer is option b.