What is the Difference Between Hormonal and Neural Control

The key difference between hormonal and neural control is that in hormonal control, the endocrine system secretes hormones into the bloodstream from glands throughout the body in order to produce an effect on target organs, while in neural control, nerve cells in the nervous system generate electrochemical impulses in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body.

Hormonal and neural control are two mechanisms that are essential for communication in human body. Two systems are very important for this purpose: endocrine system and nervous system. The endocrine system utilizes the glands throughout the body to secrete hormones that regulate various functions of the body. The nervous system, on the other hand, consists of nerves and nerve networks that allow signals to move between brain and body, ultimately regulating the different functions of the body.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Hormonal Control
3. What is Neural Control
4. Similarities – Hormonal and Neural Control
5. Hormonal vs Neural Control in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Hormonal vs Neural Control

What is Hormonal Control?

Hormonal control refers to the secretion of hormones by the endocrine system into the bloodstream from glands throughout the body in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body. A hormone is a chemical substance produced by a gland. They are always transported into different parts of the body through the bloodstream. Hormones freely move to specific areas, including organs and body tissues. The important glands that produce hormones are the pineal, hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, ovaries, testes, etc.

Hormones can alter the activities of specific target organs. For example, adrenaline is a hormone released by the adrenaline gland, and its target organ is the heart. Due to its effect on the heart, the heart rate increases. Once the hormones have been used, they are destroyed by the liver. Hormones can control the body, and the hormonal effects are slower than the nervous system. But these effects last for longer. Moreover, the endocrine system is not a part of the nervous system. However, it is still essential to communication in the human body.

What is Neural Control?

Neural control refers to the phenomenon where nerve cells in the nervous system generate electrochemical impulses in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body. Neurons are the building blocks of the communication system of the body. Neurons allow signals to move between the brain and various parts of the body. Normally, neuron networks consist of 1 trillion neurons.

These networks make up the nervous system. The nervous system is divided into two main parts: central and peripheral. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system is made of nerves and nerve networks throughout the body. The peripheral nervous system further divides into the somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system. The human nervous system receives various stimuli, sends impulses and controls different functions of the body.  Furthermore, in neural control, the information to control different functions of the body is transmitted as electrochemical nerve impulses through nerve fibres.

What are the Similarities Between Hormonal and Neural Control?

• Hormonal and neural control are two mechanisms that are essential for communication in the human body.
• Both mechanisms are very important to control functions of the body.
• Chemical signalling is involved in both mechanisms.
• Dysregulation of them causes various diseases to humans.

What is the Difference Between Hormonal and Neural Control?

Hormonal control is the secretion of hormones by the endocrine system into the bloodstream in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body, while neural control is the generation of nerve impulses by the nerve cells in the nervous system in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body. So, this is the key difference between hormonal and neural control. Furthermore, in hormonal control, the information is transmitted as chemical messengers, while in neural control, the information is transmitted as electrochemical nerve impulses.

The following infographic presents the difference between hormonal and neural control in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Hormonal vs Neural Control

Communication throughout the human body takes place through two main mechanisms: hormonal and neural control. They are very important for controlling the functions of the human body. The endocrine system carries out hormonal control by secreting hormones into the bloodstream from glands throughout the body in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body. Nerve cells in the nervous system carry out neural control by generating electrochemical impulses in order to produce an effect on target organs in the body. Thus, this is the key difference between hormonal and neural control.

Reference:

1. “Hormonal control in humans.” You and Your Hormones.
2. “Neural Control Mechanisms.” Biology Articles, Tutorials & Dictionary Online, 28 June 2021.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Puberty-Hormonal control” By Rajendra prabhune – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Neural control gut” By Boumphreyfr – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia