AQA · GCSE · Biology
Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018
Students should be able to describe the principles of hormonal…
Full specification wording
Human endocrine system: Students should be able to describe the principles of hormonal coordination and control by the human endocrine system.
Hormonal coordination uses glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.
Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 7
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Hormonal coordination uses glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Each hormone travels in the blood until it reaches target cells with complementary receptors, where it produces a specific effect. Compared with nervous coordination, hormonal responses are slower but often longer lasting and act throughout the body. A useful example is the control of blood glucose: the pancreas detects a change, secretes insulin or glucagon into the blood, and the liver responds by storing or releasing glucose. Describe the general principles: a stimulus is detected, a gland secretes a hormone, blood transports it, a target organ responds, and negative feedback restores the internal environment.
What earns the marks
- State that endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream, not through ducts.
- Explain that blood transports hormones around the body to target organs or cells.
- Describe that target cells have receptors complementary to the hormone, so only specific cells respond.
- Give a named example, such as insulin from the pancreas acting on the liver to reduce blood glucose.
- Explain that hormonal responses are usually slower and longer lasting than nervous responses.
- Link hormonal control to negative feedback, where the response reverses the original change.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Saying hormones travel along nerves.
Put it right: Hormones are carried in the bloodstream.
Claiming every cell responds to every hormone.
Put it right: Only target cells with complementary receptors respond.
Describing hormonal responses as faster than nervous responses.
Put it right: Hormonal responses are generally slower but longer lasting.
Exam tips
- Use the sequence stimulus, gland, hormone, blood, target organ, response, feedback when describing hormonal control.
- Name specific glands and hormones, such as pancreas and insulin, to support general principles.
- Compare hormonal and nervous coordination explicitly if the question asks for principles rather than a single example.
Try the lesson
The start of the Human endocrine system: Students should be able to describe the principles of hormonal coordination and control by the human endocrine system. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which statement describes how hormones travel to their target organs in the human body?
Listen
Hormonal coordination uses glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Each hormone travels in the blood until it reaches target cells with complementary receptors, where it produces a specific effect. Compared with nervous coordination, hormonal responses are slower but often longer lasting and act throughout the body. A useful example is the control of blood glucose: the pancreas detects a change, secretes insulin or glucagon into the blood, and the liver responds by storing or releasing glucose. Describe the general principles: a stimulus is detected, a gland secretes a hormone, blood transports it, a target organ responds, and negative feedback restores the internal environment. A strong answer earns marks for these points. State that endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream, not through ducts. Explain that blood transports hormones around the body to target organs or cells. Describe that target cells have receptors complementary to the hormone, so only specific cells respond. Give a named example, such as insulin from the pancreas acting on the liver to reduce blood glucose. A common slip: Saying hormones travel along nerves. Instead, hormones are carried in the bloodstream. Exam tip: Use the sequence stimulus, gland, hormone, blood, target organ, response, feedback when describing hormonal control.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Endocrine glands
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Target cells
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Negative feedback
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Hormonal responses
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Endocrine glands
- Glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream, not through ducts.
- Target cells
- Cells with receptors complementary to a hormone, so only these specific cells respond to it.
- Negative feedback
- A response that reverses the original change, restoring the internal environment.
- Hormonal responses
- Usually slower and longer lasting than nervous responses, acting throughout the body.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
There is more to this lesson
The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge
Test your understanding of Human endocrine system: Students should be able to describe the principles of hormonal coordination and control by the human endocrine system.
Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge