Edexcel IGCSE Biology · Spec 2.86
Nervous vs Hormonal
The nervous and hormonal systems compared — their speed, how long effects last, and how messages travel.
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Nervous vs Hormonal
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Spec 2.86
What you need to know
- Describe nervous communication
- Describe hormonal communication
- Compare the two systems
Active recall
Quick check
Answer each question before opening the answer.
Compare nervous and hormonal responses.
Nervous — electrical impulses, very fast, short-lived, act on a precise area. Hormonal — chemicals in the blood, slower, longer-lasting, more widespread.
How are hormones carried around the body and where do they act?
Hormones are chemical messengers carried in the blood. They act only on target cells or organs with receptors that match the hormone.
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