Control and Coordination

The working together of various organs of a living organisms in a systematic controlled

and efficient way to produce proper response to various stimuli is known as
coordination.
All living organisms must have a well- organised system which provides them with
control and coordination.
Animals – Nervous system and Endocrine system (Hormones)
Plants- Coordinate with their behaviour towards environmental changes by the
hormones.
Coordination in humans
Nervous system: It is the system of conducting tissue that receives the stimulus and
transmit it to other parts of the body forming a network. It consists of highly specialised
cells called neurons
Functions:
 Regulates voluntary and involuntary movements of the human body
 Collects information from outside world through sense organs
 Helps us in thinking and reasoning
 Controls reflex actions
 Enables us to remember things
Nerve cell (Neuron)
 Structural and functional unit of the nervous system
 Conducts information through electric impulses from one part of the body to
another
 Longest cell of human body. (90-100cm long)
 Neuron is composed of Cyton (cell body), Dendrites, Axon and Nerve ending
 Types of neurons- Sensory, Motor and Relay neuron
 Synapse- small gap between the neurons, where nerve impulses passes from one
neuron to another
 Neurotransmitters- chemicals, which are released from the membrane of one
nerve ending, when an electrical impulse reaches a synapse
Nerve impulse: It is the information in the form of chemical and electrical signals
passing through neurons. These impulses are carried by dendrites towards the cell body
Stimulus: Any change in the environment or within that bring about the reaction. E.g.
touching a hot plate.
Response: The reaction of our body to these changes. E.g. withdrawal of our hand.
Responses are of three types- Voluntary, involuntary and reflex action
Receptors: These are specialised tips of some nerve cells that detect the information
from the environment and initiates the transmission of impulses via the sensory nerves
Receptors are sense organs
1. Phono receptors (inner ear)- Hearing, balance of the body
2. Photo receptors (eyes) – Visual stimulus
3. Thermo receptors (skin) – Pain, touch, heat
4. Olfactory receptors (Nose)- Smell detection
5. Gustatory receptors (tongue)- Taste detection
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Reflex Action and reflex arc
 A reflex action is an automatic and rapid response to a stimulus, e.g., coughing,
blinking of eyes etc. it protects the body from damage and does not involve conscious
thought.
 Reflex actions are monitored and controlled through the spinal cord of nervous
system and not by the brain
 Reflex arc- The pathway taken by nerve impulses in a reflex action is called reflex
arc.
Reflex Arc

Importance of reflex action

 Enables an organism for an immediate response to a harmful stimulus
 Reduces the overloading of brain
 Increases the chances of survival of an organism.
Human Nervous System:
 Central Nervous System (CNS)
 Brain: Fore brain, Mid brain and Hind Brain

 Spinal Cord

 Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

 Cranial Nerves: Arise from brain

 Spinal Nerves: Arise from Spinal cord

 Autonomic Nervous system (ANS)

 Sympathetic Nervous System
 Parasympathetic Nervous System
Central Nervous System
Brain
 Main coordinating centre of the body
 Enables an organism to think and take decision
 Human brain receives information from the sense organs, interprets it and sends
instructions to the muscles or other effectors.
Parts of Human Brain: Human brain has three major regions- Forebrain, Midbrain and
Hindbrain
Forebrain: Largest and main thinking part
 Receives sensory impulses from various receptors
 Control the voluntary actions
 Store information (memory)
 Centre associated with hunger
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  Receives sensory impulses from various body parts and integrates it
Forebrain comprises of 3 parts: Cerebrum, Olfactory lobes and Diencephalon
a. Cerebrum- main thinking part, responsible for reasoning, speech, intelligence
and usage of information. Voluntary actions are controlled by cerebrum. E.g.,
movement of muscles
b. Olfactory lobes: these are a pair of very small, solid, club-shaped
bodies. These are responsible for detecting smell
c. Diencephalon: a region mainly composed of thalamus (a major coordinating
centre for sensory and motor signalling) and hypothalamus (controls the body
temperature, urge of drinking, etc.
2. Midbrain: Connects forebrain to the hindbrain
It controls the movement of head, neck and trunk to locate sound and other
reflexes
It also controls reflex movement of eye muscles, pupil size, etc.
3. Hindbrain: Provides connection between spinal cord and rest of the brain. It consists
of three parts: Cerebellum, Pons and Medulla
Cerebellum: muscular actions, maintaining equilibrium of the body
Pons: respiration, relay impulses between different parts of the brain
Medulla oblongata: controls involuntary actions such as breathing, blood pressure,
salivation, vomiting, etc.

Spinal Cord:
 Long, cord like, cylindrical structure arising from the medulla oblongata
 It is enclosed in a bony cage called vertebral column
Protection of Brain and Spinal Cord
Brain is protected by bony cranium inside which fluid filled balloon provides further
shock absorption. Spinal cord is protected by the vertebral column or backbone. Both
brain and spinal cord are surrounded by meninges (Dura mater, Arachnoid and Pia
mater). Cerebrospinal fluid is present between these meninges.

Plant Hormones and Movements

Plant hormones
Control and coordination in plants are carried out by hormones.
Plant Hormone Function

Auxin Helps in Growth of Plant Tissue

Cytokinin Promotes Cell division, delays aging of cells

Helps in growth of stems, initiates seed germination, promotes

Gibberilins
flowering, cell division and seed growth after germination

Inhibits growth and causes wilting of leaves, promotes

Abscisic acid
dormancy of buds and seeds

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 Ethylene This is a gaseous hormone which causes ripening of fruits
Growth independent movements
The movements which are not growth related are called nastic movements. These
movements occur in response to environmental stimuli but the direction of response is
not dependent on the direction of the stimulus.
 The movement in the touch-me-not plant is thigmonastic movement (movement
in response to touch).
Growth-related movements in plants
The movements which are growth related are called tropic movements. These
movements occur in response to environmental stimuli and the direction of the
response is dependent on the direction of the stimulus.
Examples:
 Phototropic movement (light dependent),
 Geotropic movement (gravity dependent),
 Hydrotropic movement (water dependent)
 Chemotropic movement (chemical dependent),
 Thigmotropic movement (touch dependent).
Phototropism
Movement of plant parts in response to light is known as phototropism.
 Towards light – positive phototropism
 Away from light – negative phototropism
 Stems move towards light and roots move away from light.
Geotropism
Movement of plant parts in response to earth’s gravitational force is known as
geotropism/gravitropism.
 Towards gravity – positive geotropism
 Away from gravity – negative geotropism
 Root grows towards gravity and shoot grows away from gravity
Hydrotropism
Movement of plant parts in response to water or moisture.
 Towards water – positive hydrotropism
 Away from water – negative hydrotropism
 Again, root movement in search of water is positive hydrotropism.
Chemotropism
Movement of plant parts in response to chemical stimuli is known as chemotropism.
 Towards chemical – positive chemotropism
 Away from chemical – negative chemotropism
 The growth of pollen tube towards the ovule is positive chemotropism.
Thigmotropism
Movement of plant parts in response to touch is called as thigmotropism.
 Towards touch – Positive thigmotropism
 Away from touch – negative thigmotropism
 Movement of tendrils around the support is positive thigmotropism.

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The Endocrine System
Exocrine glands
Exocrine glands are glands that discharge secretions by means of ducts, which open onto
an epithelial surface.

Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands are the ductless glands which secrete hormones into the bloodstream in
humans.
Pituitary gland
 It is a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain.
 It is the master gland as it controls the secretions of all the other endocrine glands.
 It also secretes Growth Hormone (GH). Under-secretion of GH causes ‘Dwarfism’
and over-secretion causes ‘Gigantism’.
Thyroid gland
 It is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the throat.
 It secretes the hormone ‘Thyroxine’ which regulates the metabolism of the body.
 Iodine is required to synthesize thyroxine in the body.
 In case of iodine deficiency, under-secretion of thyroxine leads to goitre.
Pancreas
 It is a leaf-like gland present behind the stomach in the abdomen.
 It is an endocrine as well an exocrine gland.
 As an endocrine gland, it manufactures two hormones – Insulin and glucagon.
Both these hormones act antagonistically and regulate the sugar level in the blood.
 As an exocrine gland, it secretes enzymes to break down the proteins, lipids,
carbohydrates, and nucleic acids in food.
 Insufficient amount of insulin from pancreas leads to diabetes.
Adrenal gland
 Occurs in pair above each kidney.
 It decreases in size with age.
 Secrets the hormone adrenaline which helps in flight and fight response.

Gonads
 Gonads are the gamete-producing organs – testes in males and ovaries in females.
 The testes produce the male hormone testosterone and ovaries produce the female
hormones oestrogen and progesterone.
 Testosterone and oestrogen help in producing gametes and are responsible for the
sexual characteristics in males and females respectively.
 Progesterone is the pregnancy hormone.
Other endocrine organs
 The other endocrine organs include the hypothalamus, parathyroid, pineal and
thymus glands.
Diagrams:
Fig- 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.7

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Endocrine Hormones
Location Functions
gland Produced
Growth hormone
Pituitary (GH), thyroid
GH stimulates growth, TSH stimulates
gland (the At the base of stimulating
functioning of thyroid gland, FSH stimulates
master brain hormone (TSH),
the follicles during ovulation.
gland) Follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH)
Thyroid Controls general metabolism and growth in
Neck Thyroxine
Gland the body.
Prepares the body for emergency situations
Adrenal
Above kidneys Adrenalin and hence is also called ‘Fight and flight’
gland
hormone.
Pancreas Near stomach Insulin Controls blood sugar level
Testis Sperm production, development of
In scrotum Testosterone
(male) secondary sexual characters during puberty.
Ovary Egg production, development of secondary
Near uterus Oestrogen
(female) sexual characters during puberty.