The most critical system of the body

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Endocrine & Nervous System
3-30-2020

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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Section 1.....................................................................................................................................2
Section 2.....................................................................................................................................4
Section 3.....................................................................................................................................5
Recommendation........................................................................................................................6
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
Endocrine system is a structure which involves the transmission of the chemical messages
named as hormone from its secretion site which is termed as glands to the target organ, tissue
or cells to regulate and control the effective and balance working of the human body.
Nervous system is the complex and the most critical system of the body which coordinates
the actions of the body via muscles and organ functions by transmitting and processing the
signals or messages received from the stimuli (Tortora, 2016).
This report discusses about the endocrine system and the nervous system. It gives an insight
about their anatomy, function and their way of working to control the body functions. It also
focuses on the major working of the metabolic function such as body temperature, fight or
fight and blood sugar level regulation in the body.
Section 1
Brain is a vital organ that controls all the functions of the body. It interprets the information
that is received to the five sense organs that are essential part of the body from the stimuli and
generates responses. Memory, intelligence, coordination, and all the actions happening to the
body is controlled by the brain. It is very delicate and sensitive organ hence it is covered in
the skeletal cage know as skull. Brain consists of three parts at top cerebrum, below it is
cerebellum & then brainstem. Cerebrum is the largest part and is divided into right and left
zone or hemispheres. Cerebellum is positioned just below the cerebrum while the brainstem
act as a link to connect cerebrum, cerebellum and spinal cord (Hines, 2018).
(Helseth & Lote, 2012)
Spinal cord is a main and focused part of CNS. It is positioned inside the vertebral column. It
is in extension with the brainstem. The spinal cord has two composition gray & white matter
like other parts of the CNS. Its surfaces are divided into four major parts namely anterior,
posterior and two lateral parts.

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Gray matter is made of the neuronal bodies of cells where a white matter which envelops the
gray matter is made up of axons. The major roles of spinal cord involve, coordination of
reflex actions, sensory organs and relay of messages to the brain (Bengochea, 2020).
The nervous system is categorized CNS and PNS. The PNS or peripheral nervous system is
further classified as somatic and autonomic nervous system. The peripheral nervous system
includes two nerves cranial nerves & spinal nerves parallel with neuromuscular junctions. In
the PNS, the information is conducted through the CNS. (Lauterbur, 2013).
The somatic nervous system is responsible for transmitting the voluntary movement and
sensory information. It consists of two types of neurons namely sensory neuron & motor
neurons. The neurons related to the sensory part carry information and messages and send it
to the brain and spinal cord. The major role of motor neurons is that they carry information of
response to the muscle fibers for the brain or spinal cord, which initiates the physical action
against stimuli. Sensory nerves are called as afferent while motor neurons are also known as
efferent (Johnson, 2018).
The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating functions of the body that are
involuntary in nature, such as flow of blood and essential activities such as breathing,
digestion and beating of heart. The system is classified as sympathetic and parasympathetic
system. The former system regulates the response of flight and fright which is highly
involuntary in nature. It will cause the heart to beat faster, dilate the eyes’ pupil, initiate
secretion of sweat and increase the blood flow. The later system will normalize the elevated
body condition which involves, calming down the blood flow and heart beat and constriction
of pupil (Kreibig, 2010).
Reflex arc is a neurological mechanism that help is handling the external stimuli received by
providing the reflex action against it. The main five components of the reflex arc include
receptor, effector, afferent fiber, efferent fiber and integration center. The sensory neuron
which act as receptor receive the stimulation which further connects to the muscle cells called
as effector which helps in performing the reflex action. The information from the receptors is
carried by the sensory cells to the motor neuron which further carries the information to the
effectors which produces response (Rogers, 2019).

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(Santuz, 2020)
Synapse is the intersection found between the axon of a neuron & dendrite end of the other
neuron which is in continuation with the previous neuron. The gap that is left between the
two neuron is termed as synaptic cleft. There are two types of synapse namely electrical
synapse & chemical synapse. When a stimulus causes the generation of nerve impulse, the
cells becomes depolarized which results in initiation of action potential and causes the nerve
impulse to move further through the neuron. When it reaches at the axon, chemical
messengers called as neurotransmitter comes into play. It diffuses at synaptic gap found
between axon and receptor (Brown, 1991).
Section 2
Endocrine system in the human body helps in regulating the functions and the activities of the
body, cells and organs. The system consists of glands which secretes the chemicals named as
hormones which regulates the growth, metabolism, emotional and sexual development. These
hormones secreted by the endocrine glands are released in to the bloodstream which helps
them to travel to their target tissue and organ. The chief and key glands of the endocrine
system is listed as pituitary gland, hypothalamus gland, adrenals, thyroid gland, pineal gland,
parathyroid gland, pancreas & reproductive organs (Lauretta Rosa & Sansone, 2019).
Pituitary gland is the most important and gland in the endocrine-system and is situated just
below the hypothalamus. It is almost pea sized but is the crucial part as the hormone produce
by it does all the major controlling of the human body. It is categorized into two lobes namely
anterior and posterior lobe. The former lobe is regulated by hypothalamus and its hormones
such as growth hormone which is responsible for development or growth of bones and tissues
in the body. TSH which triggers the thyroid gland to secrete the thyroid hormone. ACTH
which triggers the adrenal gland to produce hormones called as steroid hormones. Luteinizing
and Follicular-stimulation hormone abbreviated as FSH pokes the production of the
reproductive hormones. Prolactin which helps in stimulation of production of milk in

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lactating females. While the posterior part is not regulated by hypothalamus and it releases
antidiuretic hormone to control the water loss in kidney and oxytocin to stimulate the milk
production and contraction of uterus during child birth in the females (Roelfsema, 2017).
Hypothalamus is placed in the center of the lower fragment of the brain. This part helps in
maintaining the body temperature, metabolism, sleep- wake and appetite cycle. It releases
several hormones that regulates the pituitary gland and other hormonal glands (Kaprara,
2018).
Thyroid gland is located in neck at the front lower side. It secretes the thyroid hormone which
helps in regulating the effective metabolism of the body. It helps in development of the brain
and growth of bone in children. The release of these different hormone is controlled by the
pituitary hormonal gland. Thyroid hormone maintains muscle tone, digestion and blood
pressure (Nilsson, 2017).
Parathyroid gland is in form of two pairs of glands which are embedded on the thyroid gland.
It helps in regulating the calcium level in the body which controls functioning and growth of
bones (Mense, 2018).
Adrenal glands are triangular in shape and is located at top of the kidney. The outer section of
the kidney is made up of cortex while the inner part is made up of medulla. It regulates the
metabolism of body, maintenance of the salt and water, immune system and reproductive
function (Lowe, 2020).
Hormone production is regulated by the feedback mechanism. Adrenal, thyroid and gonadal
glands are under distant regulation by the feedback mechanism. The hormonal metabolism
effects the decrease and increase of the hormone secretion in the body (britannica, 2020).
Section 3
Regulation of the neurons and its system is the most critical and the vital function of the
nervous system. It is carried out with the help of central autonomic network. It is composed
of sympathetic and parasympathetic outflow. It also contains three circuits or loops which
helps in regulation of the body temperature. The posterior part of the hypothalamus responds
to cold temperature while the anterior does for the hot temperature. Hormones like
epinephrine, norepinephrine & thyroid helps in increasing the metabolic activity of the body
by breaking down the fat. The normal temperature of the body is being set down in the nuclei
of preoptic and hypothalamic. The brain receives the signals of temperature of body from the
nerves present in the blood and derma. These signals then are sent to Hypothalamus that
manages and controls the temperature of the body. Hypothalamus signals controls the

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sympathetic nervous system shortened as SNS which causes vasoconstriction, shivering
increased metabolism and hormonal control (Adkins-Regan, 2019).
In a stressful condition, the part of a brain called as amygdala contributes in the emotional
processing by sending the signals to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus behaves like a
commander center. When the amygdala receives the signals of stress, hypothalamus activates
the working of the SNS by transferring messages and signals via autonomic nerves to the
adrenal glands. The epinephrine or the adrenaline hormone is secreted in the blood stream.
Hence, results in faster heartbeat, increase in breathing rate and sweating. Later, the
epinephrine releases the blood sugar and into the blood from their stored centers in the body
and hence providing the energy (Harvard Medical School, 2018).
The blood sugar regulation in the body is achieved by the hypothalamus located in the
diencephalon of the brain. Blood sugar level is highly maintained by the insulin and the
glucagon which are secreted by the organs called pancreas. When the glucose level increases
in the body, the pancreases releases the hormone insulin which triggers the glucose uptake
form the blood and hence, normalizing the level in the bloodstream. Whereas when the level
decrease, the glucagon release is triggered by the SNS which in turn induces the breakdown
of glycogen to release the glucose in blood stream (Martin, 2019).
Recommendation
The nervous system & the endocrine hormonal system are the most important and the critical
system in the human. Any glitch or imbalance in their working can lead to serious
complications and disorders. Hence, to maintain their efficient working healthy eating and
lifestyle should be maintained. There are several diseases that are quite prevalent in the
society and all occurs due the changing lifestyle of the people. Thus, maintaining a good life
with healthy diet, exercise and mindful engagement of the habits is vital (Gruenbaum, 2019).
Conclusion
This report vividly discusses about the human endocrine and nervous system. It discusses
about the types of the nervous system in the humans that helps in regulating and controlling
the functions of the human body. It helps to understand the different aspects go the nervous
system, and their relation with the day to day to activities that are unnoticeable. It helps in
understanding about the effect of the hormones on the human growth and development and
how they regulate the metabolism in association with the nervous system. The signaling
message that are being used to carry out the information form one part of the body to the

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other part. This report unveils the complexity of the major aspect of the hum body that is its
regulation and maintenance using the most critical and vital system namely nervous system &
the endocrine system.

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References
Adkins-Regan, E. C. S. C., 2019. Neurobiology, Endocrinology and Behavior.
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Bengochea, K., 2020. Spinal cord. [Online]
Available at: https://www.kenhub.com/en/library/anatomy/the-spinal-cord
britannica, 2020. Feedback regulation mechanisms of endocrine signaling. [Online]
Available at: https://www.britannica.com/science/human-endocrine-system/Endocrine-
changes-with-aging
Brown, A. G., 1991. Propagation of the Action Potential — The Nerve Impulse. s.l.:Springer.
Gruenbaum, S. E. G. C. S. S. S. S. &. B. F., 2019. Endocrine Management. In: Textbook of
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Kreibig, S. D., 2010. Autonomic nervous system activity in emotion: A review. Biological
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AND FUNCTION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.
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Lowe, A. C., 2020. Kidney, Adrenal Gland, and Retroperitoneum. s.l.:Springer.
Martin, A. M. E. W. S. &. D. K., 2019. Mechanisms controlling hormone secretion in human
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Mense, M. G. a. T. J. R., 2018. Parathyroid Gland. s.l.:Academic Press.
Nilsson, M. &. F. H., 2017. Development of the thyroid gland. Development, 144(12), pp.
2123-2140.

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Roelfsema, F. B. A. K. A. &. F. E., 2017. Regulatory aspects of the human hypothalamus-
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