This week's goal was to understand the complex nervous system and the equally complex endocrine system. The nervous system can be understood as the body's electrical wiring, and not unlike a car's electrical system, when something isn't working properly, it affects the entire car. The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce, secrete, and regulate vital hormones necessary for countless functions within the human body. When the endocrine system functions properly, the body grows and develops. When a hormonal disruption occurs in the endocrine system, the individual may experience numerous diseases that are often life-altering. The following medical scenarios demonstrate the serious and sometimes fatal outcomes when the nervous and endocrine systems become diseased.Case Study-Mr. Stevens Loss of balanceMr. Stevens showed up at his doctor's office complaining of frequent episodes of ataxia, which he describes as feeling like he was drunk. He also says he is unable to draw a straight line. Mr. Stevens' doctor suspects that the patient's symptoms indicate a problem with the cerebellum. The Structure and Function of the Cerebellum The cerebellum, the second largest structure of the brain, is located inferior to the occipital lobe of the brain. The outside is made up of a thin layer of folded gray matter, while the inside is predominantly made up of white matter (Patton & Thibodeau, 2014). The cerebellum uses a complex system to communicate with other parts of the central nervous system to enable coordinated movement of the body. This occurs through three pairs of nerve “highways” called cerebellar peduncles. The peduncles perceive information from other areas of the central nervous system (CNS) such as the...... middle of paper...... Medicine: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth /PMH0001350/Samuel, L. (May 22, 2014). Anatomy and function of the cerebellum. Retrieved from Interactive Biology: http://www.interactive-biology.com/2775/068-the-anatomy-and-function-of-the-cerebellum/Stanford Medicine Cancer Institute. (2014, May 23). Brain tumors. Retrieved from Stanford Medicine Cancer Institute: http://cancer.stanford.edu/braincancer/brain.htmlThe Mayo Clinic Staff. (2013, July 11). Chronic stress puts your health at risk. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037WebMD. (2014, May 24). Exercise checklist for diabetes. Retrieved from WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/ahrq/diabetes-exercise-checklistWebMD. (2014, May 24). Diabetes Help Center. Retrieved from WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/type-1-diabetes-symptoms