What is the difference between hormonal and nervous control

Hormones are secreted by epithelial cells of the gland and then transported through the blood vessels to a target cell. At the cell the hormone will diffuse through the plasma membrane if it is soluble in lipids, else if not lipid-soluble it will bind to a hormone receptor on the plasma membrane. The transmission speed is somewhat slow since transmission is by means of the blood. The transmission of hormones is always involuntary and not under conscious control. The response to a hormone may be short-lived but can be long-lived as well.

For example the hormone adrenaline provides a short term response while the hormone cortisol provides a long term response. There are several different types of hormones having a variety of effects, and acting by negative feedback mechanisms so as to maintain homeostasis.

Growth, metabolism, water balance in the body, response to stress and inflammation, can all be regulated by the endocrine system. The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and several nerve cells and fibers which send signals around the body in the form of a nerve impulse known as an action potential, which has an effect on a target cell. The organs of the nervous system include the brain and spinal cord.

The brain is divided into several regions which have various functions and are responsible for interpreting information received via nerve input. The spinal cord attaches to the brain at the posterior region. It joins the brain stem or medulla oblongata of the hind brain. Various nerves enter and leave the brain and spinal cord. The spinal cord is also responsible for reflex arcs. The brain and spinal cord constitute the central nervous system while sensory and motor nerves neurons constitute the peripheral nervous system.

The message is transmitted as a nerve impulse called an action potential. The action potential is an all or none event and involves changes in the membrane potential of the axon of a nerve cell.

The transmission can be under voluntary and involuntary control and brings about a localized response. The transmission speed can be very fast because nerve axons are myelinated allowing for rapid saltatory conduction. Response to the impulse is usually rapid and short-lived. Transmission of nerve impulses relies on specialized cells called neurons which are supported by Schwann cells and glial cells.

An example is the recoil mechanism of an arm when touching something hot. The endocrine system relies on hormones to elicit responses from target cells. These hormones are synthesized in specialized glands at a distance from their target, and travel through the bloodstream or inter-cellular fluid. Upon reaching their target, hormones can induce cellular responses at a protein or genetic level.

This process takes significantly longer than that of the nervous system, as endocrine hormones must first be synthesized, transported to their target cell, and enter or signal the cell. However, although hormones act more slowly than a nervous impulse, their effects are typically longer lasting. Additionally, the target cells can respond to minute quantities of hormones and are sensitive to subtle changes in hormone concentration.

Gladue, B. Hormonal response to competition in human males. Aggressive Behavior, 15 6 , — Macrae, C. Person perception across the menstrual cycle: Hormonal influences on social-cognitive functioning. Psychological Science, 13 6 , — Mazur, A. Testosterone and chess competition. Social Psychology Quarterly, 55 1 , 70— Tremblay, R.

Testosterone, physical aggression, dominance, and physical development in early adolescence. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 22 4 , — Figure 4.

The peripheral nervous system is both autonomic controlling internal activities of organs and glands and somatic controlling external actions of skin and muscles. Skip to content Chapter 4. Brains, Bodies, and Behaviour. Explain how the electrical components of the nervous system and the chemical components of the endocrine system work together to influence behaviour. Key Takeaways The body uses both electrical and chemical systems to create homeostasis.

The ANS is further divided into the sympathetic activating and parasympathetic calming nervous systems. These divisions are activated by glands and organs in the endocrine system. Specific nerves, including sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons, each have specific functions. The spinal cord may bypass the brain by responding rapidly using reflexes. The pituitary gland is a master gland, affecting many other glands. Hormones produced by the pituitary and adrenal glands regulate growth, stress, sexual functions, and chemical balance in the body.

The adrenal glands produce epinephrine and norepinephrine, the hormones responsible for our reactions to stress. The sex hormones, testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, play an important role in sex differences. Exercises and Critical Thinking Recall a time when you were threatened or stressed. The peripheral nervous system is made of nerves and nerve networks throughout the body.

The peripheral nervous system further divides into the somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system. The human nervous system receives various stimuli, sends impulses and controls different functions of the body. Furthermore, in neural control, the information to control different functions of the body is transmitted as electrochemical nerve impulses through nerve fibres. Hormonal control is the secretion of hormones by the endocrine system into the bloodstream in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body, while neural control is the generation of nerve impulses by the nerve cells in the nervous system in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body.

So, this is the key difference between hormonal and neural control. Furthermore, in hormonal control, the information is transmitted as chemical messengers, while in neural control, the information is transmitted as electrochemical nerve impulses. The following infographic presents the difference between hormonal and neural control in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Communication throughout the human body takes place through two main mechanisms: hormonal and neural control. They are very important for controlling the functions of the human body. The endocrine system carries out hormonal control by secreting hormones into the bloodstream from glands throughout the body in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body. Nerve cells in the nervous system carry out neural control by generating electrochemical impulses in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body.