Final answer:
The endocrine system maintains hormone levels and homeostasis through negative feedback mechanisms, such as inhibiting hormone release, promoting hormone synthesis, and deactivating receptors when necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The endocrine system utilizes a negative feedback mechanism to maintain hormone levels within a specific range, ensuring homeostasis. Negative feedback involves reducing the output or activity of any organ or system back to its normal range of functioning. The correct options reflecting ways in which negative feedback operates in the endocrine system are:
- Inhibiting hormone release when levels get too high.
- Promoting the synthesis of hormones when levels are too low.
- Deactivating hormone receptors to reduce hormone activity.
This means that the most accurate answer would be option b) Inhibiting release, promoting synthesis, deactivating receptors, as it reflects the corrective actions taken by the body to restore hormonal balance.