How does the nervous system regulate the endocrine system? How many processes regulate the human nervous system?

The human body consists of billions of different cells performing their own special tasks. But in order for this set of individual 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 look at how the nervous system regulates the endocrine system, and how they interact with each other. But first of all remember what kind of systems and how they function.

Endocrine system

One of the basic regulatory systems of the human body is the endocrine system, which performs its functions through specific chemicals - hormones produced by special glands and specialized cells. Hormones released into the intercellular space enter the bloodstream and are transported to various tissues and body systems.

The endocrine system contains endogenous and exogenous secretion glands, such as:

• Pineal (epiphysis) ;
• Pituitary (pituitary);
• Thyroid;
• Thymus (thymus gland);
• Parathyroid;
• Pancreas;
• Adrenal glands;
• Gonads;
• Ovaries / testes.

Functions of the endocrine system

1. How the nervous system regulates the endocrine system, and she herself coordinates the functioning of the systems, organs and tissues of the body.

2. Responsible for the permanence of all processes occurring in the body in a constantly changing external environment.

3. Interacting with the nervous and immune systems, fulfills the regulating role of the process of growth and development of the physical body and organs.

4. Has a significant influence 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, through which a person is able to adapt to the diverse transforming conditions of the surrounding world. It is the nervous system (NS) that quickly responds to any changes and, by sending weak electrical signals, corrects the functioning of internal systems and various organs. Since the nervous system regulates the endocrine system, they work together to save the internal environment of the organism (homeostasis) in an unchanged state.

Main functions

1. The human NA perceives information about the surrounding reality and the external world, as well as the state of all systems and organs of the body.

2. Transfers the received information about the condition and functioning of the body to the brain.

3. Coordinates and regulates conscious (arbitrary) bodily movements.

4. Acts as a coordinating system for the performance of involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rhythm, body temperature, respiration and blood pressure.

What is the structure of the nervous system?

The structure of this system includes:

- Nerve nodes and plexuses;

- nerves;

- spinal cord;

- brain.

The NS is divided into central and peripheral departments. The central NS consists of the spinal cord and brain, as well as their covers. More than 30 pairs of spinal and cranial nerves, departing from the dorsal and brain, the brain along with the 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. By anatomical principle:

• Central;
• Peripheral.

2. By function:

• Vegetative:
• Somatic.

Let us consider in more detail what regulates the autonomic nervous system and how it occurs.

Features of autonomic and somatic nervous systems

As a result of evolution, the human nervous system had to be divided into two departments, each of which fulfills only its own specific functions. Thus, the somatic NA is responsible for the perception of information from the outside world, as well as for managing the coordination and movement of the body in space. Being part of the human NA, the autonomic nervous system regulates the activity of lymphatic and blood vessels, as well as:

- relaxation and contraction of smooth muscles of various internal organs;

- narrowing and widening of the lumen of the arteries and capillaries;

- pulse;

- the size of the pupils;

- the production of hormones by the endocrine and exocrine glands.

In addition, the vegetative NA still has the name of autonomic, that is, independent of the functioning of the somatic NC, which is responsible for perception and reaction to stimuli affecting the skeletal muscles of the human body. The vegetative nervous system of a person regulates the so-called plant life of the organism and through the control and management of metabolic processes and the respiration, circulation, digestion, isolation and reproduction that are functionally interrelated with it.

It is subdivided, according to the structure and features of the functioning of the reflex arc, to the metasympathetic, parasympathetic and sympathetic departments. The autonomous nervous system regulates, through its departments, the consumption of various nutrients, an increase in the amount of oxygen supplied to the muscles, a rapid increase in respiration, and other functions.

Unlike somatic, the autonomic nervous system regulates the activity of systems and organs in an "automatic" mode, which is involuntary. It almost does not lend itself to conscious control, in contrast to the somatic. This is a very important advantage, which does not allow to interfere with the evolutionarily smooth system of work of human organs and systems.

Somatic HC

The somatic department of the nervous system regulates the work of the sense organs and controls the functioning of skeletal muscles under the control of human consciousness. Only a conscious effort and with a conscious desire, a person can get up or sit down, bend or unbend an arm and any other limb. For the inherent feature only of animals - movement - this department of the National Assembly is sometimes called an animal or an animal. The management center of the somatic HC is located in the brain, on the surface of the hemispheres, where the information flow comes from the sense organs and the processing of information on how to satisfy those or other needs of the human body.

The somatic nervous system regulates behavioral changes that help people adapt to a social or natural environment.

Similarity and difference of systems

As already mentioned, both the endocrine and nervous systems serve to maintain a constant internal environment and coordinate organic functions. The 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 regulating the body, compensating for changes that have come from the outside.

Common to both systems is the use of chemical agents to convey information. Electrical impulses in the nervous system pass through cells due to neurotransmitters or molecular signals, and the endocrine system uses hormones released by endogenous and exogenous glands.

These systems differ from each other in terms of the reaction rate, while the NS responds quickly, but the endocrine system responds more slowly.

Tandem of the nervous and endocrine systems

If, during the study, separation of these systems is possible, then for the normal operation of the human body, a concerted and harmonious work is necessary. In reality, the endocrine and nervous systems are coordinated and harmoniously functioning, being in constant interaction with each other.

During the research it was found that the chemical regulation of the organism's activity arose much earlier than the nervous one. But in the process of evolution, a nervous system was formed that was ahead of the endocrine response rate, and was the first to respond to various effects and transmit electrical impulses to cells that respond to irritation with active substances such as hormones. Based on this, models were constructed of how the nervous system regulates the endocrine system. Recent studies have shown that a clear delineation of endocrine and nervous regulation is impossible. This is due to the fact that, for example, individual nerve cells located in some areas of the brain produce and send to the bloodstream hormones that affect the functioning of the endocrine system, as well as the work of others. Thus, today it is right to talk about a single neuroendocrine system of a person regulating and controlling all processes in the body.