Welcome to GattPrep!
What tells your body to run when you’re scared? Or reminds your hand to pull away from something hot—before you even feel the burn?
That’s the magic of the nervous and endocrine systems—your body’s communication and control centers. While the nervous system uses electrical messages to act fast, the endocrine system uses hormones for longer-lasting effects.
In this lesson, we’ll explore how these two systems work together to keep your body informed, balanced, and ready to respond to the world around you.
The nervous system collects information from inside and outside the body, processes it, and responds—usually through muscles or glands.
| Part | Function |
|---|---|
| Central Nervous System (CNS) | Brain and spinal cord – processes information |
| Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) | Nerves outside the CNS – carries messages to and from the CNS |
| Part | Function |
|---|---|
| Cerebrum | Thinking, memory, voluntary actions |
| Cerebellum | Balance and coordination |
| Medulla (Brainstem) | Controls involuntary actions like heartbeat and breathing |
🖼️ [Insert labeled diagram of brain and spinal cord]
Messages travel along neurons (nerve cells).
A reflex action is a fast, automatic response to danger.
The path it follows: stimulus → receptor → sensory neuron → spinal cord → motor neuron → effector → response
This is called a reflex arc.
The endocrine system controls slow but long-lasting responses by sending hormones (chemical messengers) into the blood.
| Gland | Hormone | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Pituitary | Growth hormone | Controls growth and other glands |
| Thyroid | Thyroxine | Controls metabolism |
| Pancreas | Insulin | Controls blood sugar |
| Adrenal glands | Adrenaline | Triggers “fight or flight” response |
| Ovaries (females) | Oestrogen | Controls menstrual cycle and secondary sexual traits |
| Testes (males) | Testosterone | Controls sperm production and secondary sexual traits |
🔔 Hormones travel slower than nerve signals but last longer.
Example:
You’re being chased by a dog.
Nervous system: Sees the dog and sends fast signals to your muscles (run!).
Endocrine system: Releases adrenaline to increase heartbeat and energy.
This teamwork keeps you alive and alert!
| Disorder | System | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke | Nervous | Blood flow to part of the brain is blocked |
| Paralysis | Nervous | Damage to brain or spinal cord affects movement |
| Diabetes | Endocrine | Pancreas produces too little insulin, leading to high blood sugar |
| Goitre | Endocrine | Swollen thyroid from lack of iodine (affects metabolism) |
🧠 Problem: Ama steps on a sharp pin and pulls her foot away before she feels the pain. Which body systems were involved?
✅ Step-by-Step Solution:
The receptor in her foot detects the pin.
A nerve signal travels through the reflex arc to her spinal cord.
A motor neuron tells her muscle to pull away.
Later, her brain processes the pain.
✔️ Answer: The nervous system controlled a reflex action to protect her from harm.
(a) The part of the brain that controls breathing is the __________.
(b) The chemical messengers of the endocrine system are called __________.
Answers:
(a) medulla
(b) hormones
| Gland | Hormone |
|---|---|
| (i) Thyroid | A. Adrenaline |
| (ii) Pancreas | B. Thyroxine |
| (iii) Adrenal gland | C. Insulin |
Answers:
(i) → B
(ii) → C
(iii) → A
Q: What is the main difference between how the nervous system and endocrine system send messages?
A: The nervous system uses electrical signals through neurons for fast responses; the endocrine system uses hormones through the bloodstream for slower, longer-lasting responses.
Here’s what you learned:
The nervous system collects information and controls quick responses.
The endocrine system uses hormones for long-lasting control of growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
The brain and spinal cord are central to nervous function.
Glands like the pancreas and thyroid help regulate body functions.
Both systems work together to maintain balance (homeostasis).
Think about a time when you felt fear, excitement, or pain. Can you explain what happened in your nervous and endocrine systems during that moment?
Write a few sentences or share with a partner!
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