The nervous system is a part of an organism that coordinates its activity and sensory information by transmitting signals to and from different parts of the body. It works in coordination with the endocrine system, which is a chemical messenger system that comprises a number of glands that make hormones (Tortora & Derrickson, 2016). The nervous and endocrine systems work together to initiate and control movement, coordinate body functions, and react to changes in the internal and external environment.
The nervous system consists of two main parts, the central nervous system (CNS), which comprises the brain and the spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, which consists of nerves. Nerves transmit information to and from different organs, and the CNS integrates information and coordinates the activity of all parts of the body (Moini, 2019). The endocrine system consists of a number of glands, the major of which are the thyroid gland and the adrenal gland. Glands produce hormones, which are signaling molecules that regulate physiology and behavior (Tortora & Derrickson, 2016). The neural control center for all endocrine activity in the human body is the hypothalamus, which is a part of the brain that connects the nervous system with the endocrine system.
Nervous system problems are common and include several types of disorders: infections, vascular, structural, functional, and degenerative disorders. The most common neurological disorders are stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease (“Overview of nervous system disorders,” n.d.). The diseases of the endocrine system are primarily caused by misregulated hormone release, inappropriate response to signaling, lack of a gland, or structural enlargement of a gland. They include diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
References
Moini, J. (2019). Anatomy and physiology for health professionals. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Overview of nervous system disorders.(n.d.). Johns Hopkins Medicine. Web.
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. (2016). Principles of anatomy and physiology (15th ed.). J. Wiley.