Question

1) What are the advantages and disadvantages of communication via the nervous system and communication via the endocrine system?

2) Does the combination of the two communication channels circumvent the respective problems?

Answer 1

The neural communication is comprised of billions of interconnected cells called neurons that communicate via chemical exchanging which is a result of electrical stimulation produced by specific stimuli. Another communication system is provided by the endocrine system which is triggered by hormones synthesized from different glands of our body. The pituitary gland for example is situated in the brain and secretes many hormones.

Structural Design
The nervous system is structurally linked whereas the endocrine system is not. The logical grid of neurons makes the neural network speedy and efficient. However, close anatomic connection of nerve cells is mandatory for communicating each other in a proper way. Though the glands (that produce hormones) are not connected to each other, hormones can travel to any other part of the body and finding the right target receptors enables its proper functioning.

Speed
The neural system is considered faster than that of the endocrine system. Reactions at a neural level happen in milliseconds whereas the way hormones are secreted and travel through the bloodstream make them slow-acting after binding to the appropriate receptors.

Length of Impact
As the functions are more short-lived nervous system requires repetition to produce long-lasting effects. On the contrary, responses of hormones can lasts even after the binding to the receptors has ceased. Specifically hormones that affect the production of proteins have longer effect than those that are just activating enzymes.

Distance of action
Inspite of the length of the axon can cover the distance between the brain and some of the most distant points of the spinal cord, the nature of neural transmission is local by design. On the otherhand hormones reaches it's target sites through bloodstream and hormones have more outreach than neurons in the way they communicate and impact the body.

Both systems constitute the major ways by which our body is regulated. Both are interconnected and the combination of the two communication channels definitely circumvent the respective problems.