KEY CONCEPT The nervous system and the endocrine system provide the means by which organ systems communicate.
The body’s communication systems help maintain homeostasis. A stimulus causes a response. Responses can be chemical, cellular, or behavioral. The nervous and endocrine systems respond to stimuli.
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM NERVOUS SYSTEM Is made of glands, hormones Rate of communication is through bloodstream Types of signals: only chemical signals Examples of processes: growth, development, and digestion. Is made of brain, spinal cord and nerve cells Rate of communication is fast through nerve cells Type of signals: chemical and electrical Examples of processes: thoughts, movement, and emotion Divisions: CNS and PNS