Science
Compare and contrast nervous and hormonal mechanisms for control and coordination in animals.
Answer
Nervous and hormonal mechanisms are two primary systems that animals use for control and coordination of physiological processes. Both these systems often work together, with the nervous system triggering the release of hormones in certain situations. Both systems allow animals to adapt and respond to changes in their internal and external environments.
The differences between nervous and hormonal mechanisms are summarised below:
| Nervous mechanism | Hormonal mechanism |
|---|---|
| Brain, Spinal cord and Neurons are involved. | Endocrine glands are involved. |
| The signal is transmitted electro-chemically through the nerve fibres and chemically across synapses. | The signal is transmitted chemically through blood. |
| The nervous response is short-lived. | Hormonal response is long-lived. |
| It is immediate/rapid. | It is usually slow. |
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