nervous + endocrine system

• Nervous system

  A specialised network of cells in the human body and is our primary internal communication system
• Endocrine system

  A network of glands throughout the body that manufacture and secrete chemical messengers known as hormones
• Nervous system

  • Has two main functions: 1) To collect, process and respond to information in the environment 2) To co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells
• Hormones

  Chemicals that circulate the bloodstream and are carried to target sites throughout the body
• The nervous system and endocrine system are separate systems, but they often work together to help the body function properly
• Endocrine system

  1. Glands produce and secrete hormones

  2. Hormones circulate in the bloodstream

  3. Hormones carried to target sites throughout the body
• Central Nervous System (CNS)

  • Made up of the brain and the spinal cord
  • Brain is the centre of all conscious awareness
  • Cerebral cortex is highly developed in humans
  • Brain is divided into two hemispheres
  • Spinal cord is responsible for reflex action
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

  • Transmits messages via millions of neurons (nerve cells), to and from the central nervous system
  • Subdivided into somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
• Somatic Nervous System

  • Responsible for carrying sensory and motor information to and from the spinal cord
• Autonomic Nervous System

  • Governs vital functions in the body such as breathing, heart rate, digestion, sexual arousal and stress responses
• Two main divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System


  • Sympathetic nervous system
  • Parasympathetic nervous system
• The actions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are mostly antagonistic - they work in opposition to each other
• The endocrine system is in charge of body processes that happen slowly, while the nervous system controls faster processes like breathing and body movement
• Hormones are named from the Greek word "hormao" meaning "I excite"
• Key glands, hormones and their effects on behaviour

  • Pituitary gland
  • Hypothalamus
  • Adrenal gland
  • Testes