The human body is made up of billions of different cells that perform their own special tasks. But in order for this set of separate units to work together and make up a single, well-functioning organism, a constant information exchange between them is necessary. In the human body, there are two systems responsible for such an exchange of information: nervous and endocrine. In this article, we will examine how the nervous system regulates the endocrine system, as well as how they interact with each other. But first of all, remember what kind of systems they are and how they function.
Endocrine system
One of the basic regulatory systems of the human body is the endocrine one, which performs its functions through special chemicals - hormones produced by special glands and specialized cells. Hormones secreted into the intercellular space enter the bloodstream and are transported with it to various tissues and systems of the body.
The endocrine system contains glands of endogenous and exogenous secretion, such as:
- pineal (pineal gland) ;
- pituitary (pituitary gland);
- thyroid;
- thymus (thymus gland);
- parathyroid;
- pancreas;
- adrenal glands;
- gonads;
- ovaries / testicles.
Endocrine system functions
1. As the nervous system regulates the endocrine system, so it itself coordinates the functioning of the systems, organs and tissues of the body.
2. Responsible for the constancy of all processes occurring in the body in a constantly changing external environment.
3. Interacting with the nervous and immune systems, plays the regulatory role of the growth and development of the physical body and organs.
4. It has a noticeable effect on the course of emotional and mental processes, and, consequently, human behavior.
5. Participates in the regulation of the reproductive system and promotes sexual differentiation.
Nervous system
This is a complex anatomical formation, thanks to which a person is able to adapt to various transforming conditions of the surrounding world. It is the nervous system (NS) that quickly responds to any changes and, sending weak electrical signals, corrects the functioning of internal systems and various organs. Since the nervous system regulates the endocrine system, they together help to preserve the internal environment of the body (homeostasis) in an unchanged state.
Main functions
1. The human NS perceives information about the surrounding reality and the external world, as well as about the state of all systems and organs of the body.
2. Transmits the received information about the state and functioning of the body to the brain.
3. Coordinates and regulates conscious (voluntary) bodily movements.
4. It acts as a coordinating system for performing involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate, body temperature, respiration and blood pressure.
What is the structure of the nervous system?
The composition of this system includes:
- nerve nodes and plexuses;
- nerves;
- spinal cord;
- brain.
NS is divided into central and peripheral departments. The central NS consists of the spinal cord and brain, as well as their integument. More than 30 pairs of spinal and cranial nerves extending from the spinal cord and brain, along with branches, are the peripheral nervous system. Such a division is conditional, since these two departments function together.
Classification
The human nervous system can be classified:
1. According to the anatomical principle:
2. According to the functions performed:
Let us consider in more detail what regulates the autonomic nervous system and how this happens.
Features of the autonomic and somatic nervous systems
As a result of evolution, the human nervous system had to be divided into two departments, each of which performs only its characteristic functions. So, the somatic NS is responsible for the perception of information from the outside world, as well as for controlling the coordination and movement of the body in space. Being a part of the human NS, the autonomic nervous system regulates the activity of the lymphatic and blood vessels, as well as:
- relaxation and contraction of the smooth muscles of various internal organs;
- narrowing and widening of the lumen of the blood arteries and capillaries;
- pulse;
- pupil size;
- hormone production by the endocrine and exocrine glands.
In addition, the autonomic NS is also called autonomous, that is, independent of the functioning of the somatic NS, which is responsible for the perception and reaction to stimuli that affect the skeletal muscles of the human body. The human autonomic nervous system regulates the so-called plant life of the body through the control and management of metabolic processes and functionally interconnected respiration, blood circulation, digestion, excretion and reproduction.
It is subdivided, in accordance with the structure and features of the functioning of the reflex arc, into metasympathetic, parasympathetic and sympathetic departments. The autonomic nervous system regulates through its departments the consumption of various nutrients, increasing the amount of oxygen entering the muscles, increasing breathing and other functions.
Unlike the somatic, the autonomic nervous system regulates the activity of systems and organs in the "automatic" mode, which is of an involuntary nature. It practically does not give in to conscious control, unlike somatic. This is a very important advantage, which does not allow interfering with the evolutionarily debugged system of work of human organs and systems.
Somatic NS
The somatic section of the nervous system regulates the functioning of the senses and controls the functioning of skeletal muscles under the control of human consciousness. Only with conscious effort and with a conscious desire can a person get up or sit down, bend or unbend his arm and any other limb. For a feature peculiar only to animals - movement - this section of the National Assembly is sometimes called an animal or an animal. The control center of the somatic NS is located in the brain, on the surface of the hemispheres, where the information flow from the senses arrives and information is processed on how to satisfy certain needs of the human body.
The somatic nervous system regulates a change in behavior that helps a person adapt to a social or natural environment.
Similarity and distinction of systems
As already mentioned, both the endocrine and nervous systems serve to maintain a constant internal environment and coordinate organic functions. NS is characterized by the perception of stimuli from the outside world and the development of responses to them. The endocrine system is responsible for the regulation of the body, compensating for changes that have come from outside.
Common to both systems is the use of chemical agents to transmit information. Electrical impulses in the nervous system pass through the cells due to neurotransmitters or molecular signals, and the endocrine system uses hormones secreted by endogenous and exogenous glands.
These systems differ in terms of reaction speed, while the NS reacts quickly, but the endocrine one responds more slowly.
Tandem of the nervous and endocrine systems
If during the study and separation of these systems is possible, then for the normal work of the human body their coordinated and coordinated work is necessary. In reality, the endocrine and nervous systems function in a coordinated and coordinated manner, being in constant interaction with each other.
During studies, it was found that chemical regulation of the body's activity arose much earlier than the nervous one. But in the process of evolution, a nervous system was formed that was faster than the endocrine one, and became the first to respond to various influences and transmit electrical impulses to cells, which in response to irritation excrete such active substances as hormones. Based on this, models were built of how the nervous system regulates the endocrine system. Recent studies have shown that a clear distinction between endocrine and nervous regulation is not possible. This is due to the fact that, for example, individual nerve cells located in some areas of the brain produce and send hormones into the bloodstream that affect the functioning of the endocrine system, as well as the work of others. Thus, today it is correct to speak of a single human neuroendocrine system that regulates and controls all processes in the body.