Q. Why is the endocrine system considered one of the integrative systems of the body? What is the other physiological system that also has this function?
The endocrine system is said to have integrative character since the hormones produced by the endocrine glands are substances that act at a distance and many of them act in different organs of the body so the endocrine glands receive information from some regions of the body and they can produce effects in other regions providing functional integration for the body.
Besides the endocrine system the other physiological system that also has integrative function is the nervous system. The nervous system integrates the body through a network of nerves connected to peripheral and central neurons. The endocrine system integrates the body through hormones that are produced by the endocrine glands and travel through the circulation.