This essay seeks to compare and contrast the nervous system and the endocrine system. However in order to do so, the nervous system and the endocrine system must be defined.
The nervous system is a complex communication network in which signals are received, integrated and transmitted via neurons.
The endocrine system is another communication system within the body whereby hormones are secreted into the blood stream via glands.
The nervous system is made up of living tissue, composed mainly of cells. There are two types of cells, glia and the neurons. The glia make up the support system and the neurons permit communication through out the nervous system.
The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system, which is composed of the brain and the spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, which contains all of the nerves exterior to the brain and the spinal cord. The brain is divided into three categories the forebrain, midbrain and the hindbrain.
The peripheral nervous system is further divided into the somatic nervous system, which controls voluntary reflexes and the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary muscles of the internal organs and the glands. E.g. The heart. The autonomic nervous system comprises of two parts. The sympathetic nervous system, which arouses us for defense actions and the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms us down to conserve energy.
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The endocrine system consists of glands that secrete hormones into the blood stream, which can affect emotion, motivation as well as personality. The endocrine system is made up of the gonads, which produce hormones involved in reproduction and sexual development. Also the pancreas which controls the sugar metabolism, the thyroid gland, which regulates the metabolic rate, the adrenal gland, which produce hormones which control salt and carbohydrate metabolism as well as arousal and sleep. The pituitary gland is also present and is also known as the "master gland".
