Which of the following statements describes an interaction between the nervous and endocrine systems?

• A. The pancreas secretes insulin in response to neural signals from the spinal cord.
• B. The thyroid gland produces neurotransmitters for synaptic transmission.
• C. The hypothalamus regulates the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.
• D. The adrenal cortex directly controls muscle contraction.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key components of the nervous and endocrine systems involved in the interaction. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, while the endocrine system includes glands such as the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands.
2. Understand the role of the hypothalamus in the nervous system. The hypothalamus is a region of the brain that acts as a link between the nervous and endocrine systems.
3. Recognize the function of the pituitary gland in the endocrine system. The pituitary gland is often referred to as the 'master gland' because it regulates the activity of other endocrine glands.
4. Explore how the hypothalamus and pituitary gland interact. The hypothalamus produces releasing and inhibiting hormones that control the secretion of hormones from the pituitary gland.
5. Conclude that the interaction between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland exemplifies the connection between the nervous and endocrine systems, as the hypothalamus (part of the nervous system) regulates hormone release from the pituitary gland (part of the endocrine system).