CBSE Class 10 Answered

In many cases nerves and hormones work together. This happens chiefly through a lower front part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which has direct and intimate nerve-like connections with the main gland of the endocrine system, the pituitary, just below it.

For eg - When the body is suddenly faced with a stressful threat or fright, nerve signals from the brain pass along the vagus and cardiac nerves to the heart. Within a second or two these make the heart, beat faster and more powerfully. Also, nerve signals to the adrenal gland cause them to release adrenalin (epinephrine), one of the fastest-acting hormones, into the blood. Adrenalin quickly increases heart rate and power, too. It also affects the distribution of blood, causing an increase in blood pressure and more blood to flow to the muscles. Together these various nervous and hormonal processes coordinate the body’s preparation for physical activity, in the so-called ”fight or flight” reaction.

This shows that there is considerable co-ordination between nerves and hormones.