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Departamento de Zootecnia, Engenharia Rural e Veterinária (DZERV)

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Browsing Departamento de Zootecnia, Engenharia Rural e Veterinária (DZERV) by contributor "Payan-Carreira, Rita"

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  • The Endocrine Glands in the Dog: From the Cell to Hormone
    Publication . Vala, Helena; Rodrigo, Joao; Esteves, Fernando; Santos, Carla; Cruz, Rita; Mega, Cristina; Nóbrega, Carmen; Payan-Carreira, Rita
    The animal body represents one of the more complex and perfect systems of nature. Despite its complexity and its functionality, which is incredibly effective, the control of its basic functions is performed by only two systems: the nervous system and endocrine system. The nervous system is associated with electrical and chemical signals that are transmitted at high speed, resulting in rapid organic activities. The endocrine system acts through the synthesis and release of chemical messengers and is responsible for several functions of the organism, in a slower, but more durable way. Endocrinology is the science that studies the internal secretions produced by endocrine glands. Endocrine glands are distributed throughout the body and secrete chemical messengers – hormones, in response to an internal or external stimulus. These hormones are released directly into the bloodstream – endocrine mechanism, in contrast to exocrine glands, which use a ductal system to release their secretions in locations that lead, ultimately, to the exterior of the body – exocrine mechanism. Hormones are transported through the bloodstream to target organs, where they will exert a physiological control, even in low concentrations, coordinating a multiplicity of organic functions and maintaining homeostasis. The main endocrine glands in the animal body include pituitary gland, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, adrenal (Figure 1), and gonads (ovaries and testes).
    2012Book part Restricted access Show more