The nervous and endocrine systems work together to coordinate animal responses to their environment. The nervous system uses electrical impulses along nerve fibers while the endocrine system releases hormones into the bloodstream from glands. The brain receives sensory information and creates responses, while the spinal cord transmits impulses between the brain and body. Hormones secreted by endocrine glands trigger responses in target organs throughout the body more slowly than the rapid, localized effects of the nervous system. Common disorders of each system include epilepsy, ataxia, diabetes, and hypothyroidism.

1. Animal Nervous and
Endocrine System

2. Co-ordination
• Animals must be able to sense and respond to
the environment to survive.
– temperature of their surroundings (avoid the hot sun)
– be able to identify food
– escape predators
Two systems are involved in co-ordination
• Nervous System
– operates via electrical impulses along nerve fibres
• Endocrine Systems
– operates by releasing special chemicals or hormones
into the bloodstream from glands.

3. Nervous System of a Horse

4. Main Components of the Nervous System
• Brain
– Keeps a check on internal organs and activities, such
as the level of carbon dioxide or water in the blood
– Receives information from senses
– Creates response
• Spinal Cord
– Transmits impulses to and from the brain and controls
many reflex actions.
• Nerve (Neuron)
– Sensory
– Inter
– Motor

5. Terms
• Nerve
– Carries electrical messages
• Reflex Action
– A quick, automatic response to a particular stimulus
(knee jerk)
• Autonomic Nervous System
– controls internal body functions not under conscious
control
• Central nervous system (CNS)
– brain and spinal cord
• Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
– the nerves branching
from the CNS to all parts of the body.

6. Sense Organs
• Animals have specialised senses to
provide them with information about their
environment.
• The five senses are sight, hearing, touch,
taste and smell

7. Sources of Stress Reaction to Stress
• Predators • Muscular Tension
• Lack of food and • Adrenaline Rush
water • Increase Heartbeat
• Captivity • Heightened
• No suitable mates Awareness
• Extreme change in
environment

8. Endocrine System of a Dog
• Group of specialised tissues (glands) that
produce chemicals called hormones

9. 2 types of Gland
Endocrine Glands Exocrine Glands
Ductless Glands Have a Duct
Secrete hormones Secretes hormones
directly into the blood directly to site

10. Hormones
• The pituitary is often called the ‘master gland’,
as many of its hormones trigger other glands to
release theirs
• It produces
– ADH to stimulate water reabsorption in the kidneys
(anti-diuretic hormone)
– TSH which stimulates the thyroid gland to release
thyroxine (thyroid stimulating hormone)
– FSH which controls the functions of the reproductive
organs. (follicle stimulating hormone)

12. • The thyroid gland, in the neck produces thyroxine
– stimulates metabolism
• The pancreas produces insulin
– stimulates cells to absorb glucose from the blood, and
store it as glycogen
• The adrenal gland produces adrenaline
– helps the body cope with emergencies (the ‘flight or
fight’ hormone)
• The ovary produces oestrogen and progesterone
– prepares the female for pregnancy
• The testes produce testosterone
– triggers sperm production and growth in the male

13. Gland Hormone Function

14. Comparison of the endocrine and nervous
systems - 1
Endocrine
Cells involved
Message
Carried by
Message sent to
Received by

15. Comparison of the endocrine and nervous
systems - 1
Endocrine
Cells involved Gland
Message Chemical
(Hormone)
Carried by Blood
Message sent to Cells throughout
the body
Received by Target organ

16. Comparison of the endocrine and nervous
systems - 1
Endocrine Nervous
Cells involved Gland Sense receptor
Message Chemical Electrical(Impulse)
(Hormone)
Carried by Blood Nerve cell
Message sent to Cells throughout A specific cell or
the body tissue
Received by Target organ Effector (muscle or
gland)

17. Comparison of the endocrine and nervous
systems -- 2
Endocrine
Speed of Usually slow
transmission
Effects Can be widespread
Duration long-lasting
(hours)

18. Comparison of the endocrine and nervous
systems -- 2
Endocrine Nervous
Speed of Usually slow Rapid
transmission
Effects Can be widespread Localised usually
Duration long-lasting Usually brief
(hours) (seconds)

19. Common Ailments of the Nervous
System
• Epilepsy
– Convulsions and Fits
– Removal of underlying cause or use
anticonvulsant drugs
• Ataxia
– Irregular or unsteady gait
– Physiotherapy

20. Common Ailments of the Endocrine
System
• Diabetes
– Signs – very dilute urine, anorexia, diarrhoea
– Drug therapy to treat
• Hypothyroidism
– Signs – clammy skin, weight gain, tired
– Drug therapy to treat