The nervous system and endocrine system work closely together to regulate body functions, but they do so in different ways. The nervous system sends electrical signals through neurons to trigger immediate responses — like muscle movement or reflexes — and controls activities like thought, memory, and sensation. While the brain, particularly the hypothalamus, does influence the endocrine system by signaling the pituitary gland, the system that actually produces and secretes hormones is the endocrine system. So although the nervous system can initiate hormonal signals, it is not the system responsible for hormone production and regulation. That specific function falls squarely within the endocrine system.