The Nervous System and the Endocrine System: Communicating Within the Body

Chapter 2, Pages 63-70Essentials of Understanding Psychology- Sixth Edition

PSY110 Psychology© Richard Goldman

October 4, 2006

Complexity

One neuron may connect to 80,000 other neurons

Total neural connection may exceed one quadrillion (1,000,000,000,000,000 – 15 zeros)

Endocrine system communicates by using hormones that travel through the blood system

The Nervous System

Central Nervous System (CNS) – Brain & Spinal Cord

Peripheral Nervous System – From spinal cord to exremities

Spinal Cord

Conduit Reflexes

Sensory (afferent) neurons Motor (efferent) neurons – (muscles) Interneuron – connect sensory to motor

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic (Voluntary) – Senses & Voluntary Movement

Autonomic (Involuntary) – Unconscious bodily functions Sympathetic – Prep the body for emergency (fight

or flight) Parasympathetic – Calm the body

NervousSystem

Evolutionary and Behavioral

Genetics predisposes people to behave in particular ways or to have particular characteristics

Endocrine System

Hormones (chemical messengers) affect function and growth of parts of the body

Pituitary (Master Gland) – Regulated by the hypothalamus – Responsible for growth & homeostasis

Thyroid (&Parathyroid) – Metabolism Thymus – Immune system Adrenal Gland & Pancreas – Produce Insulin &

Glucagon – control sugar metabolism Ovary & Testis – Produce sex hormones

EndocrineSystem