Control and Coordination
Frequently Asked Questions
Coordination refers to the process by which different organs and systems of living organisms work together harmoniously to respond to stimuli and maintain homeostasis.
The nervous system and endocrine (hormonal) system control and coordinate various functions in animals.
The neuron is the structural and functional unit of the nervous system.
A neuron consists of the cell body, axon, and dendrites.
The human brain includes the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.
The cerebrum controls voluntary actions, thinking, memory, reasoning, and intelligence.
A reflex action is a quick, automatic response to a stimulus, often controlled by the spinal cord.
The spinal cord transmits signals between the brain and the rest of the body and coordinates reflexes.
Sensory neurons carry information from sense organs to the central nervous system.
Motor neurons carry signals from the central nervous system to muscles or glands.
The endocrine system is a system of glands that secrete hormones to regulate various body functions.
Hormones are chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that travel through blood to target organs.
The pituitary gland is known as the master gland because it controls other endocrine glands.
Important hormones include insulin, adrenaline, thyroxine, growth hormone, and sex hormones.
Phototropism is the movement or growth of a plant in response to light.
Geotropism is the movement or growth of a plant in response to gravity.
Phytohormones are plant hormones that regulate growth and response to stimuli.
The major plant hormones are auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, abscisic acid, and ethylene.
Thigmonasty is a non-directional movement in plants caused by touch, such as the folding of Mimosa pudica leaves.
Plants coordinate responses using hormones and by changing growth directions (tropic responses).
Adrenaline is a hormone produced by adrenal glands that prepares the body for 'fight or flight' in emergencies.
A feedback mechanism helps maintain the right levels of hormones in the body by regulating secretion.
The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movements and maintains posture and balance.
Information passes in the form of electrical impulses from dendrites to axon terminals.
Goitre is caused by deficiency of iodine leading to less thyroxine production by the thyroid gland.
Receptors are specialized cells or tissues that detect changes (stimuli) in the environment.
The hypothalamus links the nervous system to the endocrine system and controls the pituitary gland.
Nervous responses are fast and short-lived, while hormonal responses are slower but longer-lasting.
Homeostasis maintains stable internal conditions necessary for survival and optimal functioning.
Examples: Knee-jerk reflex, withdrawing hand from a hot object, blinking eyes.
Hydrotropism is the movement of plant roots towards water.
Medulla oblongata controls involuntary actions like heartbeat, breathing, and digestion.
Nastic movement is a plant movement caused by external stimuli but not directed towards or away from the stimulus.
Hormones are transported through the bloodstream to target organs.
Insufficient insulin production leads to high blood sugar levels, causing diabetes.
