Final answer:
The release and regulation of hormones are mainly controlled by negative feedback mechanisms, wherein a hormone's production is decreased once it reaches a certain level to maintain homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The control and regulation of hormones in the human body are primarily governed by feedback mechanisms, which can either be simple or involve multiple pathways. The feedback loop commonly responsible for hormone production and release is the negative feedback mechanism.
This mechanism works by having the hormone itself signal to reduce its production when levels within the blood reach a certain point, thereby maintaining homeostasis. For instance, when the thyroid gland releases thyroid hormones T3 and T4, elevated levels of these hormones feed back to the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary to inhibit further signaling and production, thus regulating the concentration within a narrow range.
In contrast, positive feedback mechanisms are less prevalent because they amplify the conditions, leading to increasingly extreme states, which can be detrimental to the body's balance. An example of a positive feedback loop is the production of oxytocin during childbirth, which intensifies the process until delivery.