Question

Compare and contrast hormonal and humoral stimuli.

Short answer

Humoral stimuli are changes in extracellular fluid or ion levels that regulate the release of hormones. The term "hormonal stimuli" describes the hormones that are released in reaction to hormones that are released by other endocrine glands. Neural stimuli are the hormones that are released as a result of neural activation.

Step-by-step solution

Introduction 

Humoral stimuli are changes in extracellular fluid or ion levels that regulate the release of hormones. The term "hormonal stimuli" describes the hormones that are released in reaction to hormones that are released by other endocrine glands.

Explanation 

Humoral Stimuli	Hormonal Stimuli
Humoral stimulation is of releasing hormones in direct response to blood levels of ions and nutrients. Ex. Hyperglycaemia stimulates the release of insulin. Hypocalcemia stimulates the release of parathyroid hormone.	Hormonal is stimulation of release of hormone directly from another gland Ex. Ant. Pituitary gets stimulated by the hypothalamus.
It is a very common stimulus.	It happens rarely, depending on various factors.
Humoral stimuli are a response to correct any pathological changes as a defensive mechanism.	Hormonal stimuli refer to the release of a hormone in response to another hormone.