What is the difference between nervous system and endocrine system?

Answer 1

The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Neurotransmitters are used as chemical messengers for this system.

This system works at a fast rate.

The endocrine system consists of glands like the pancreas, thyroid, testes, ovaries, adrenal, pituitary to name a few. The chemical messengers for the endocrine system are hormones. Endocrine glands are ductless. This system works at a slow rate.

Answer 2

The endocrine system communicates changes in physiology via hormones that travel in the blood.

The nervous system communicate messages that regulate many physiological functions via neurons that communicate by synapses and neurotransmitters.

Answer 3

Both the nervous and the hormonal (exocrine and endocrine) systems in mammals are systems that transfer information around the body. The major differences are the signals that are transmitted, the speed at which the signals are transmitted, and how the transmission occurs. In the hormonal system the only actions that occur are responses to stimuli. A certain organ will release a certain chemical when exposed to a certain stimulus. In the nervous system however there may be much complex interaction between the stimulus and the act associated with it. The nervous system uses its own tissue to transmit signal around the body at high speed. In almost all cases these signals are either going towards or from the brain. The central nervous system includes the brain and the spinal cord, as opposed to the peripheral nervous system that includes all other nerves, both cranial and spinal (words that describe their origins). The nervous system is therefore one that is spread throughout the body. To contrast with this the endocrine and exocrine systems are located in specific organs, or glands. These release chemicals into the bloodstream, or into ducts within in which they are dispersed around the body, or to where they are needed. The glands are in many different locations, but the hormonal (especially the endocrine) system in is no way physically interconnected. It must act in response to stimuli that have not been created by the system. For example, the islets of langerhans in the pancreas form part of the endocrine system. Blood glucose level is sensed, and depending on the situation with respects to the ideal either insulin or glucagon is released to counteract the abnormality. Signals in the nervous system must be caused initially by some other stimulus, e.g. pressure, which triggers a response in the pacinian corpuscles in that area. This will initiate an action potential, and thus a transmission of signal. In the nervous system there will be a very clear path that the signal will follow, and this will be done at a great speed. Transmission in the nervous system appears, to the human eye to be nearly instant. The hormonal system is different from this. It may take minutes, to an hour or more for the effects to become significant. The effects of hormones are less likely to be immediately visible compared to those of the nervous system. The nervous system may make someone move their arm, but it is their hormonal system that controls their growth and development. The transmission of signals along mylienated axons is quick and direct, but the release of adrenaline can only take an effect once the hormone has circulated to the tissues where it takes effect. I found this on another website. Hope this helps x
1. Nervous system involves electrical impulses while hormonal system involve hormones which are chemical substances

2. Nervous system is quick in response (instantly) but hormonal system is usually slow in responses which may even take years.

3.hormonal system is a chemical reaction producer while the CNS is a physical reaction producer.

4.The nervous system is more associated with plasticity. Synaptic plasticity results in changes in the quantity of neurotransmitter released and how effectively the postsynaptic cells respond to the neurotransmitter. Although the effects of hormones are generally more permanent, the system is considered more elastic than plastic (changing but then returning to the original.)

In conclusion, the body often combines the speed of the nervous system with the specificity of the endocrine system to create the neuroendocrine system. Neuroendocrine cells receive neurally transmitted information and release hormones in response which is carried via blood the the target cells. The neuroendocrine system is mainly organised by the hypothalamus.
The hormone system is chemical based, that is, using hormones to send information. The nervous system is based on electrical impulses.

Answer 4

The endocrine system controls functions with chemical messengers called hormones. The nervous system controls functions with electrical impulses called action potentials. Hormone regulation takes minutes to days while action potentials propagate within fractions of a second.