The Relationship Between the Nervous System and the Endocrine System
The Relationship Between The Nervous System and The Endocrine System
The cells and tissues in the body are delicate and easily disrupted. They will only be able to function well if all aspects of their chemical and physical environment is continuously adjusted to keep them stable and in equilibrium. The process in which several body systems work together to maintain the balanced environment is called homeostasis. The endocrine and nervous system work closely together to help maintain homeostasis. Examples of where they work together are thermoregulation and osmoregulation. [1]
The nervous system is the body’s prime communication and coordination network and is constantly alive with electricity. The nervous system comprises of three systems, which are defined by anatomy and function. The three systems are: the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) . The CNS is central to the body’s structure and workings. The CNS is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. 43 pairs of nerves branch from the CNS. 12 of the pairs branch from the brain and the other 31 nerve pairs branch from the spinal cord. The 43 pairs of nerves stretch throughout the body to form the peripheral nervous system. The CNS is the coordinator and “decision maker” in the nervous system, and the PNS is sending the information as sensory input and receives instructions as motor output to muscles and glands. The autonomic nervous system has some elements in the CNS and it shares some nerves with the PNS. The ANS has its own nerve chain along side the spinal cord. The ANS primarily deals with “automatic” work such as blood pressure control and heart rate. We are rarely aware of the work of the ANS. [1]
The endocrine system is often over shadowed by the nervous system. Like the nervous system the endocrine system is also involved in the “information business”. The endocrine system consist of bodies of glandular tissue and also
The cells and tissues in the body are delicate and easily disrupted. They will only be able to function well if all aspects of their chemical and physical environment is continuously adjusted to keep them stable and in equilibrium. The process in which several body systems work together to maintain the balanced environment is called homeostasis. The endocrine and nervous system work closely together to help maintain homeostasis. Examples of where they work together are thermoregulation and osmoregulation. [1]
The nervous system is the body’s prime communication and coordination network and is constantly alive with electricity. The nervous system comprises of three systems, which are defined by anatomy and function. The three systems are: the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS) . The CNS is central to the body’s structure and workings. The CNS is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. 43 pairs of nerves branch from the CNS. 12 of the pairs branch from the brain and the other 31 nerve pairs branch from the spinal cord. The 43 pairs of nerves stretch throughout the body to form the peripheral nervous system. The CNS is the coordinator and “decision maker” in the nervous system, and the PNS is sending the information as sensory input and receives instructions as motor output to muscles and glands. The autonomic nervous system has some elements in the CNS and it shares some nerves with the PNS. The ANS has its own nerve chain along side the spinal cord. The ANS primarily deals with “automatic” work such as blood pressure control and heart rate. We are rarely aware of the work of the ANS. [1]
The endocrine system is often over shadowed by the nervous system. Like the nervous system the endocrine system is also involved in the “information business”. The endocrine system consist of bodies of glandular tissue and also
References: [1] P69,103-105,22 The Human Body Book, [2] P1036 - 1037, 823, Biology 8th Edition, Solomon, Berg and Martin [3]http://www.purchon.com/biology/osmoregulation.htm