Nervous and Endocrine

System

Function of Nervous Regulation Control

and coordinate your response

to your environment using electrical
impulses

Impulse-

neurons

electrical messages carried by

Function of Nervous Regulation:

Control

and coordinate your response

to your environment using electrical
impulses
Impulse- electrical messages carried by
neurons
Nerve cells (Neurons) - specialized
cells that carry electrical impulses
throughout an organism

Function of Nervous Regulation:

Receptors-

specialized structures that

are sensitive to stimuli such as physical
forces or chemical changes

Effector-

specialized structure that

responds to impulse commands from
the nervous system such as glands,

organs or muscles

3 steps to a nervous response

Receive

stimulus through receptor

Transmit impulse through interneurons
Cause effector to respond to impulse
Refractory

Period- time period when

nerve cannot be stimulated (resting
period)

Neuron Cell Structure:

Cell body
Contains nucleus
Metabolic activities
happen here
Controls the growth
of cell
Generates electrical
impulse

Neuron Cell Structure:

Dendrite
Fibers that receive
impulses from other
neurons
Impulse is carried
toward the cell body

Neuron Cell Structure:

Axon
Long fiber that
extends away from
the cell body
Covered with
Schwann cells
(myelin) to insulate
the impulse
Conducts impulse
away from the cell

Neuron Cell Structure:

Synapse
Gap between the
dendrite of one
neuron and the axon
of another
Neurotransmitter
chemical is used to
bridge the gap and
conduct the impulse

Neuron Types:
Motor Neurons
Carry an impulse from the brain/spinal
cord to the muscle cells
Sensory Neurons
Senses are generated here
Sense a stimulus and send impulse to
the brain/spinal cord

Involuntary response
Use parts of the brain other than
cerebrum
Reflex- simple response that goes
quickly to the spinal cord and back
to the effector (muscle)

NO Brain involvement!

Involuntary response
Example:

Heat Sensor in skin senses hot stove

Sensory neuron generates an impulse
Impulse goes to spine
Spinal inter neuron sends an impulse directly to
motor neuron
Motor neuron sends impulse to muscle to move
hand away from hot
stove
(automatic response because no thought was
involved)

Voluntary response
Involve

the brains cerebrum

Human Nervous System

Two main parts

Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain
Cerebrum2 hemispheres (halves)
3 functions-sensory (senses), motor (voluntary
movement), associative (memory, learning, & thought)

Cerebellum-

2 hemispheres
Controls all voluntary movements and some
involuntary movements
Coordinates balance
Coordinates movement with cerebrum

Medulla

Oblongata-

Controls heartbeat, breathing, blood flow and coughing

Central Nervous System

Spinal

Cord

Connects

peripheral nerves to brain

Controls reflexes

Peripheral Nervous System

-all nerves that are NOT part of brain or
spinal cord

Composed of sensory and motor neurons

Carries impulses to and from the CNS

ENDOCRINE
ENDOCRINE
SYSTEM
SYSTEM

Chemical Regulation:
Endocrine system
Function: regulate metabolism, homeostasis,
growth and reproduction, use chemical
messages or hormones
Effect on the body:
Hormones are specific to a target organ or
tissue to stimulate or inhibit
Response of system is slower than nervous
system because it must travel through the blood
to reach target
Effect of hormone- last minutes to hours or
even years

***Connection to Nervous system

through hypothalamus***

Organs of the Endocrine System :

GLAND

HORMONE(S) FUNCTION IN
THE BODY

Pineal

melatonin

Daily sleep and

wake cycles

Pituitary
(Master gland)

TSH,ACTH, Growth
Hormone, FSH, LH,
Prolactin/ oxytocin,
vasopressin

Controls other
glands

Thyroid

Thyroxine,
calcitonin

Overall body
metabolism, blood
calcium levels

Organs of the Endocrine System:

Parathyroid

parathormone

Calcium and
phosphate
metabolism

Thymus

thymosin

Stimulate T-cells
in immune
system

Pancreas

Insulin, glucagon

Blood sugar
(glucose)

Organs of the Endocrine System:

Adrenal

Epinephrine
(adrenaline) &
norepinephrine,
cortisol,
aldosterone

Stimulate nervous
system fight or
flight
mechanism,
stress response,
sodium balance

Ovary/ testis

Estrogen,
progesterone,
testosterone

Sperm and egg

production,
secondary and
primary sex
characteristics

Every cell in
body

Prostaglandin

Secreted in
response to
injury and
affect
metabolic
activities such
as heart beat,
blood pressure
& immune
response

Hormone secretion regulation:

Glands

controlled by- by nervous system

such as hypothalamus or by chemicals or
other hormones
***Feedback Loops***
Negative Feedback Loop:
Activity changes the bodys condition
Change triggers a series of events to maintain
homeostasis by inhibiting or stimulating a
gland

Example:
TSH in Pituitary gland
hormone
Thyroxine
therefore TSH
Lower TSH

Thyroid makes thyroxine

, too high so negatively affect pituitary gland

means lower thyroxine

Pituitary
TSH

Thyroid
Thyroxine

Positive Feedback Loop:

Change

in bodys condition causes

response
Original change is increased or
intensified
Example:

babys head against uterus

causes uterus contractions to increase
in intensity and number during childbirth
labor

Nervous and Endocrine Disorders

Parkinsons

Disease- certain areas of

brain die off affecting muscle movement
Huntingtons Disease- genetic disease in
which neurons waste away or degenerate
in brain- uncontrolled movements to
inability to care for oneself
Alzheimers Disease- memory loss from
brain cell death

Nervous and Endocrine Disorders

Cushings

Disease- too much cortisol

Hyperthyroidism- thyroid secretes too
much
Diabetes Mellitus- insulin secreting
cells dont secrete