Final answer:
Some neurosecretory neurons send their axons to capillaries, where they release neurohormones. These neurotransmitters or neurohormones play a pivotal role in integrating the nervous system with the endocrine system, exemplified by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, to maintain homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Complete the statements about the integration of nervous and endocrine functions: some neurosecretory neurons send their axons to capillaries, where they release their neurohormones. The nervous and endocrine systems use chemical signaling to regulate the body's physiology. The nervous system communicates rapidly via neurotransmitters, while the endocrine system uses hormonal signals for longer-term physiological changes. A prime example of integration between these two systems is the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, where the hypothalamus, acting as a neuroendocrine organ, orchestrates a range of endocrine responses.
In the context of autonomic nervous system signaling, molecules like norepinephrine function as neurotransmitters when released from postganglionic sympathetic axons onto target tissues. However, when the same molecules such as norepinephrine and epinephrine are released into the bloodstream from the adrenal medulla, they act as hormones, impacting distant target cells. The nervous system utilizes neurotransmitters for quick responses and the endocrine system depends on hormones for sustained effects, contributing to maintaining homeostasis in the body.