Final answer:
Humoral stimuli are controls for hormone release based on extracellular fluid changes, such as ion concentration in the blood, while hormonal stimuli involve the release of hormones in response to other hormones. Both involve hormone release but have different triggering mechanisms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing and contrasting humoral and hormonal stimuli involves understanding their different triggers for hormone release. A humoral stimulus is derived from the term 'humor,' which historically refers to bodily fluids. The control of hormone release in response to changes in extracellular fluids such as blood or the ion concentration in the blood is known as a humoral stimulus. For instance, increased blood glucose levels trigger the release of insulin from the pancreas.
In contrast, hormonal stimuli are triggered by other hormones. This occurs when one hormone stimulates or inhibits the release of another hormone. This can be seen in how the hypothalamus releases hormones that prompt the pituitary gland to release its hormones, which then affect other endocrine glands.
Therefore, both humoral and hormonal stimuli involve the release of hormones but are triggered by different mechanisms - one by changes in fluid or ion concentrations, and the other by hormonal signals from other endocrine glands.