Final answer:
Paracrine signals, hormones, and cytokines differ in their target cell proximity and action modes. Primary endocrine pathologies originate in the endocrine glands, while secondary ones involve control signaling issues. Hypersecretion and hyposecretion describe excessive or insufficient hormone production, respectively, and the anterior and posterior pituitary lobes differ anatomically in relation to the hypothalamus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparison of Paracrine Signals, Hormones, and Cytokines
Paracrine signals are chemical cues that are secreted by cells and have effects on nearby target cells in the immediate vicinity. Hormones are chemical substances produced by endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream to affect distant target cells. Cytokines are a broad category of small proteins, such as interleukins and interferons, that are important in cell signaling, and they can act on nearby or distant cells depending on their context.
Primary vs. Secondary Endocrine Pathologies
Primary endocrine pathologies are disorders caused by the dysfunction of an endocrine gland, while secondary endocrine pathologies result from a problem with the signaling that controls the gland, often involving the pituitary or hypothalamus.
Hypersecretion vs. Hyposecretion
Hypersecretion refers to the excessive production and release of a hormone, whereas hyposecretion refers to inadequate production and release.
Anatomical Relationship of the Anterior and Posterior Pituitary to the Hypothalamus
The anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) does not have direct neural contact with the hypothalamus but connects through a blood vessel system called the hypophyseal portal system. The posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis) is an extension of the hypothalamus and is directly connected by nerve fibers.