Nervous vs Endocrine

• Nervous System 

  • Signal Type: Electrical impulses 
  • Transmission: Through neurons 
  • Transmission Speed: Faster (milliseconds) 
  • Duration of Effects: short term 
  • Area of Effect: Localised, specific to target areas
  • Entry to target cells: neurotransmitters at synapses, sodium and potassium channels 
  • Control Mechanisms: controls rapid responses, movement and reflexes
  • Examples: Reflex actions, sensory processing, muscle contraction
• Endocrine System 

  • Signal Type: Hormonal (chemical)
  • Transmission: Through the blood 
  • Transmission speed: slower 
  • Duration of Effects: longer lasting 
  • Area of Effect: widespread, affects many organs 
  • Entry to target cells: diffuse through plasma membrane (steroids, or bind to receptors 
  • Control Mechanisms: Regulates growth, metabolism, homeostasis 
  • Examples: Insulin, adrenaline thyroid hormones  
• Both 

  • Regulate body functions to maintain homeostasis 
  • Use signalling to transmit information throughout the body 
  • Utilise feedback loops to control responses 
  • The hypothalamus links the two systems, coordinating activities 
  • Both respond to internal and external stimuli to adjunct body functions
  • The homeostatic control of other factors involves both the nervous system and endocrine systems working together as two systems of communication that can combine to bring about the required responses