Final answer:
Hormones secreted by the endocrine system bind to specific receptors on target cells to regulate numerous physiological processes, with negative feedback loops commonly modulating these hormonal activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Binding of hormones to receptors on target organs is the basis of the mechanism of regulation for the endocrine system.
Hormones, the secretions of endocrine glands, play a critical role in the regulation of physiological processes by binding to receptors on target cells, leading to various responses that maintain the body's homeostasis. These responses include human reproduction, growth, metabolism, and much more.
Once a hormone binds to a receptor, a series of events is triggered, leading to the target cell's response, be it activating or inhibiting genes through transcription regulation or stimulating intracellular signaling pathways.
The regulation of these hormonal responses is often controlled by feedback mechanisms, primarily via negative feedback loops, which help maintain hormone levels within a narrow optimal range.