chemical co-ordination Flashcards
what is chemical co-ordination?
described as a slow, prolonged process of communicating information throughout the body, by ways of chemicals called hormones.
what do endocrine glands secrete?
a variety of hormones
which system does the endocrine system work with ?
the nervous system
how are chemical co-ordination and nervous co-ordination similar ?
they both transfer information
how is chemical co-ordination and nervous co-ordination different ?
by means of speed + response time
characteristics of chemical co-ordination?
- brought about by endocrine system
- influences metabolic activities of all cells by hormones
- hormones travel in bloodstream
- conduction is slow
- causes widespread response in target organs
- response is slow but long lasting
characteristics of nervous co-ordination?
- brought about by nervous system
- regulates activities of muscle glands by means of electrical impulse
- impulses conducted by neurons
- conduction is very fast
- causes specific response in one target organ (effector)
- response is rapid and short lasting
what is a hormone ?
a chemical substance, usually a protein ( sometimes a steroid )
that is secreted but the endocrine gland
+ carried into the bloodstream to is target organs.
what does a hormone do?
regulates metabolic reactions
why don’t hormones last long ?
they are broken down by enzymes
how do hormones operate ?
not on their own
they form integrated systems with other hormones + the nervous system
how are hormones carried and what do they effect ?
hormones are carried in the blood throughout the body
only affect certain cells
how do specific cells respond to hormones ?
they have receptor sites for that hormone
where are the target organs/tissues located ?
in a single gland/ organ
in some cases they are scattered throughout the body as many areas are affected
what is the endocrine gland ?
a small vascular, ductless gland
that secretes hormones that are carried in the bloodstream to their target organs
