Cell Communication in the Endocrine and Nervous Systems (BIO 203)

This report provides a comprehensive overview of cell communication, focusing on its mechanisms and functions within the endocrine and nervous systems. It begins with an introduction to cellular communication, explaining how cells use chemical signaling, such as hormones and neurotransmitters, to interact and respond to their environment. The report then delves into the structures of the nervous and endocrine systems, highlighting the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as the key glands of the endocrine system. A detailed comparison of cell communication in both systems is presented, contrasting the use of chemical and electrical signaling in the nervous system with the exclusive use of chemical signaling in the endocrine system. The report explains how the endocrine system utilizes hormones transported through the bloodstream, while the nervous system employs neurotransmitters for rapid, localized communication. The discussion includes examples like the role of oxytocin and emphasizes the differences in response times and distances covered by each system. Finally, the report concludes by summarizing the key distinctions in signaling mechanisms, distances, and response times, providing a clear understanding of how these two systems work to regulate various bodily functions. The report is based on scholarly sources and is formatted as per the provided assignment brief.

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Cell communication on the endocrine system and the nervous system
Name of the student:
Name of the professor:
Date:

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Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................3
Why and how cells communicate:...................................................................................................3
Structure of the nervous and endocrine system:..............................................................................4
Cell communication in the endocrine and nervous system:............................................................5
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................6
Works Cited.....................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction:
Cells are the building block and the fundamental structural, functional, and biological element of
all living beings. If we consider our human body, it consists of trillions of cells. They are
responsible for the body structure, transformation of food and nutrients, altering nutrients into
energy, and conduct other necessary functions within the body. The umbrella term cell
communication refers to the process through which cells communicate and respond to each other
to perform certain functions. The survival of cells highly relies on getting, transferring and
processing signals both from outside and inside environment. In this specific article, we will
provide an in-depth discussion on how cells communicate with each other and what are their
functions in the endocrine system and the nervous system.
Why and how cells communicate:
The whole communication between cells occurs through their own language of chemical
signaling. Compounds like hormones, neurotransmitters function alphabets and phrases that
instruct cells about the outer environment and communication messages1. For example, when we
eat something, our pancreas detects it and releases insulin hormone to signal other cells to
eliminate glucose from the blood. In order to gain access to different chemical signals, cells
utilize receptor proteins attached to the outer wall or inside a cell. The time when a chemical
signal gets attached to the receptor, the protein transforms into a signaling cascade within the cell
which at the end directs the cell’s response2. Each and every cell has receptors and the receptors
1 Rasmussen, H. (1970). Cell Communication, Calcium Ion, and Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate. Science,
170(3956), 404-412. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.170.3956.404
2 Piva,F.Bardin,C.W.Forti,G.Motta, M.(1988). Cell to cell communications
in Endocrinology. Rome, Italy: Serono Symposia Publications from Raven Press; Volume.49.

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which are able to detect different types of signals. There are different transduction pathways that
differ in length and specifically intended to purify and amplify the chemical signal. This also
helps cells to provide a different response for the same signaling module3.
Structure of the nervous and endocrine system:
The structure of the nervous has two main parts; central nervous system and peripheral nervous
system. While the central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord, the
peripheral nervous system (PNS) is made up of axons and ganglions. Within the peripheral
nervous systems, there are certain divisions named as the somatic nervous system (SNS) and the
autonomic nervous system (ANS). The somatic nervous system is responsible for the muscle and
skeletal voluntary control, and also assists in sensing a raindrop or temperature difference in our
body. The major function of the autonomic nervous system is involuntary. It controls our body’s
homeostasis by operating the heartbeat, digestion system, breathing capacity, etc4.
On the other side, the endocrine system contains tissues, cells, organs that release chemical
signals like hormones as a part of the primary or secondary function. The main glands that the
endocrine system contains are pituitary, thyroid, hypothalamus, pineal body, adrenals, ovaries,
and testes.
3 Neitzel, J. Rasband, M. (2014). “Cell Communication”. Scitable by Nature
Education. www.nature.com/scitable/topic/cell-communication-14122659/.
4 Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science;
2002. General Principles of Cell Communication. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26813/

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Cell communication in the endocrine and nervous system:
Both the endocrine system and the nervous system are responsible for conducting and regulating
multifaceted body activities. While the endocrine system controls different actions of the body
by releasing a multifarious chemical substance named hormones into the blood stream, the
nervous system utilizes two different kinds of intercellular communication such as chemical and
electrical signaling5.
In the case of chemical signaling, chemical neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and serotonin
play the lead role in transforming information. They function locally and quickly. The time when
an electrical signal appears in the synaptic terminal as an action potential, it got diffused around
the synaptic cleft. The time when the neurotransmitters attach with the receptors on the post-
synaptic cell, the stimulation of the receptor converts into a constant electrical signaling or
modified cellular response. Within a fraction of a millisecond, the target cell replies and it ends
very quickly right after the ending of neural signaling. Thus, neural communication helps in
different body functions related to movement, cognition, and sensation.
On the other side, the endocrine system utilizes only a single form of communication; chemical
signaling. Endocrine organs like the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid send these types of
signals which in result, secrets hormones. After being transferred through the bloodstream into
the body, these hormones attach with the target cell receptors, which in result, deduce a
characteristic response. Comparing endocrine signaling with neural signaling, endocrine
signaling takes more time to deliver an answer in intended cells6.
5 Watson, Stephanie, and Kelli Miller. The Endocrine System. Greenwood Press, 2004.
6 Kiriyama, Y., & Nochi, H. (2016). D-Amino Acids in the Nervous and Endocrine Systems. Scientifica, 2016, 1-9.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6494621

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Adding to that, neural signaling is more accurate than an endocrine signal. A certain hormone
can take part in different roles and conduct various physiological activities with respect to
different target cells. An example will make easier to understand. The oxytocin hormone helps in
uterine contractions at the time of pregnancy and also assist breastfeeding. They can even control
the sexual urge and emotional attachments for both men and women.
Generally, the nervous system helps to respond quickly with respect to external activities. On the
other side, the endocrine system controls the internal atmosphere of the body at a relatively
slower speed than the nervous system, and operate activities like homeostasis, reproduction, etc.
If we compare the endocrine and nervous systems, we can see different functions of them. While
the signaling mechanism in the endocrine system is hormones, for the nervous system it is both
chemical and electrical signals. Hormones are the primary signal transformation method for the
endocrine system and for the nervous system, it is neurotransmitters. While nervous system
covers a short distance and response rapidly, endocrine system covers both short and long
distances and can respond both fast and slow.
Conclusion:
Throughout this article, we have discussed what is a cell, why and how they communicate, and
how their communication differs in the endocrine and the nervous system. This article
systematically analyses each and every aspect of cell communication related to endocrine and the
nervous system and tries to figure out their differences in communication. This understanding
will help us to get a better idea of cell communication and the functions of the endocrine and the
nervous system.

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Works Cited
Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York:
Garland Science; 2002. General Principles of Cell Communication. Available
from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26813/
Kiriyama, Y., & Nochi, H. (2016). D-Amino Acids in the Nervous and Endocrine Systems.
Scientifica, 2016, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/6494621
Piva,F.Bardin,C.W.Forti,G.Motta, M.(1988). Cell to cell communications
in Endocrinology. Rome, Italy: Serono Symposia Publications from Raven Press; Volume.49.
Rasmussen, H. (1970). Cell Communication, Calcium Ion, and Cyclic Adenosine
Monophosphate. Science, 170(3956), 404-412. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.170.3956.404
Watson, Stephanie, and Kelli Miller. The Endocrine System. Greenwood Press, 2004.
Neitzel, J. Rasband, M. (2014). “Cell Communication”. Scitable by Nature
Education. www.nature.com/scitable/topic/cell-communication-14122659/.