The following are the major differences between nervous system and hormonal system:
i. Nervous system is controlled by the brain or spinal cord while hormonal system is controlled by pituitary glands
ii. Response is fast in nervous system while it is slow in hormonal system
iii. In nervous system, the effect is for a very short time while that of the hormonal system is for a long time.
iv. In nervous system, messages are passed mainly as electrical impulses along nerves while messages in hormonal system are through chemical substances in the blood stream
v. For nervous system, effectors (which are muscles and glands) receive the message while target organs receive the message in hormonal system.