Chapter 7 Control and Coordination Note
Chapter 7 Control and Coordination Note
Receptors: Receptors are the specialized tips of the nerve fibres that collect the information to be conducted
by the nerves.
Receptors are in the sense organs of the animals.
These are classified as follows :
Neuron: Neuron is a highly specialized cell which is responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses. The
neuron consists of the following parts
(i) Cyton or cell body: The cell body or cyton is somewhat star-shaped, with many hair like structures
protruding out of the margin. These hair-like structures are called dendrites. Dendrites receive the nerve
impulses.
(ii) Axon: This is the tail of the neuron. It ends in several hair-like structures, called axon terminals. The axon
terminals relay nerve impulses.
(iii) Myelin sheath: There is an insulator cover around the axon. This is called myelin sheath. The myelin
sheath insulates the axon against nerve impulse from the surroundings.
Types of neuron
Sensory neuron: These neurons receive signals from a sense organ.
Motor neuron: These neurons send signals to a muscle or a gland.
Association or relay neuron: These neurons relay the signals between sensory neuron and motor neuron.
Synapse: The point contact between the terminal branches of axon of one neuron with the dendrite of another
neuron is called synapse.
Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ): NMJ is the point where a muscle fibre comes in contact with a motor neuron
carrying nerve impulse from the control nervous system.
Transmission of nerve impulse: Nerve impulses travel in the following manner from one neutron to the next :
Dendrites → cell body → axon → nerve endings at the tip of axon → synapse → dendrite of next neuron.
Chemical released from axon tip of one neuron, cross the synapse or neuromuscular junction to reach the next
cell.
Human Nervous System: The nervous system in humans can be divided into three main parts
1. Central Nervous System: The central nervous system is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The
brain controls all the functions in the human body. The spinal cord works as the relay channel for signals
between the brain and the peripheral nervous system.
2. Peripheral Nervous System: The peripheral nervous system is composed of the cranial nerves and spinal
nerves. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves. The cranial nerves come our of the brain and go to the organs in
the head region. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves. The spinal nerves come out of the spinal cord and go to
the organs which are below the head region.
3. Autonomous Nervous System: The autonomous nervous system is composed of a chain of nerve ganglion
which runs along the spinal cord. It controls all the involuntary actions in the human body. The autonomous
nervous system can be divided into two parts :
Sympathetic Nervous System: This part of the autonomous nervous system heightens the activity of an organ
as per the need. For example, during running, there is an increased demand for oxygen by the body. This is
fulfilled by an increased breathing rate and increased heart rate. The sympathetic nervous system works to
increase the breathing rate the heart rate, in this case.
Parasympathetic Nervous System: This part of the autonomous nervous system slows the down the activity of
an organ and thus has a calming effect. During sleep, the breathing rate slows down and so does the heart
rate. This is facilitated by the parasympathetic nervous system. It can be said that the parasympathetic nervous
system helps in the conservation of energy.
Human Brain: Human brain is a highly complex organ, which is mainly composed of nervous tissue. The
tissues are highly folded to accommodate a large surface area in less space. The brain is covered by a three-
layered system of membranes, called meninges. Cerebrospinal fluid is filled between the meninges. The CSF
providers cushion the brain against mechanical shocks. Furthermore, protection. The human brain can be
divided into three regions, viz. forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain.
Hypothalamus: The hypothalamus lies at the base of the cerebrum. It controls sleep and wake cycle (circadian
rhythm) of the body. It also controls the urges for eating and drinking.
Cerebellum: Cerebellum lies below the cerebrum and at the back of the whole structure. It coordinates the
motor functions. When you are riding your bicycle, the perfect coordination between your pedalling and
steering control is achieved by the cerebellum.
Medulla: Medulla forms the brain stem, along with the pons. It lies at the base of the brain and continues into
the spinal cord. The medulla controls various involuntary functions, like hear beat respiration, etc.
It controls involuntary actions.
Example: Blood pressure, salivation, vomiting.
Pons: It relays impulses between the lower cerebellum and spinal cord, and higher parts of the brain like the
cerebrum and midbrain, also regulates respiration.
Spinal cord: Spinal cord controls the reflex actions and conducts massages between different parts of the
body and brain.
Reflex Action: Reflex action is a special case of involuntary movement involuntary organs. When a voluntary
organ is in the vicinity of sudden danger, it is immediately pulled away from the danger to save itself. For
example, when your hand touches a very hot electric iron, you move away your hand in a jerk. All of this
happens in flash and your hand is saved from the imminent injury. This is an example of reflex action.
Reflex Arc: The path through which nerves signals, involved in a reflex action, travel is called the reflex arc.
The following flow chart shows the flow of signal in a reflex arc.
Receptor → Sensory neuron → Relay neuron → Motor neuron → Effector (muscle)
The receptor is the organ which comes in the danger zone. The sensory neurons pick signals from the receptor
and send them to the relay neuron. The relay neuron is present in the spinal cord. The spinal cord sends
signals to the effector via the motor neuron. The effector comes in action, moves the receptor away from the
danger.
The reflex arc passes at the level of the spinal cord and the signals involved in reflex action do not travel up to
the brain. This is important because sending signals to the brain would involve more time.
Although every action is ultimately controlled by the brain, the reflex action is mainly controlled at the level of
spinal cord.
Muscular Movements and Nervous Control: Muscle tissues have special filaments, called actin and myosin.
When a muscle receives a nerve signal, a series of events is triggered in the muscle. Calcium ions enter the
muscle cells. It result in actin and myosin filaments sliding towards each other and that is how a muscle
contracts. Contraction in a muscle brings movement in the related organ.
Endocrine System: The endocrine system is composed of several endocrine glands. A ductless gland is
called endocrine gland. Endocrine gland secretes its product directly into the bloodstream. Hormones are
produced in the endocrine glands. Hormone is mainly composed of protein. Hormones assist the nervous
system in control and co-ordination. Nervous do not react to every nook and corner of the body and hence
hormones are needed to affect control and coordination in those parts. Moreover, unlike nervous control,
hormonal control is somewhat slower.
Hormones: These are the chemical messengers secreted in very small amounts by specialised tissues called
ductless glands. They act on target tissues/organs usually away from their source. Endocrine System helps in
control and coordination through chemical compounds called hormones.
Endocrine Gland: A ductless gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream.
Pituitary gland (also known At the base of the brain Growth hormone (GH). GH stimulates growth.
as the master gland) Thyroid stimulating TSH stimulates the
hormone (TSH). Follicle functioning of the thyroid
stimulating hormone (FSH) gland.
FSH stimulates the follicles
during ovulation.
Thyroid Gland Neck Thyroxine Controls general
metabolism and growth in
the body.
Adrenal gland Above kidneys Adrenalin Prepares the body for
emergency situations and
hence is also called ‘Fight
and flight’ hormone.
Pancreas Near stomach Insulin Controls blood sugar level
Testis (male) In Scrotum Testosterone Sperm production,
development of secondary
sexual characters during
puberty.
Ovary (female) Near uterus Oestrogen Egg production,
development of secondary
sexual characters during
puberty.
Iodised salt is necessary because: Iodine mineral is essential part of thyronine hormone so it is important that
we must consume iodised salt as in turn it is essential for thyroid gland as it controls carbohydrate, proteins and
fat metabolism for best balance of growth deficiency of iodine might cause disease called goitre.
Diabetes: Cause : It is due to deficiency of insulin hormone secreted by pancreas that is responsible to
lower/control the blood sugar levels.
Treatment : Patients have to internally administer injections of insulin hormone which helps in regulating blood-
sugar level.
In case of flight or fight reaction to an emergency situation, Adrenal glands → release adrenaline into blood →
which acts on heart and other tissues → causes faster heart beat → more oxygen to muscles → reduced blood
supply to digestive system and skin → diversion of blood to skeletal muscles → increase in breathing rate.
Feedback mechanism: A type of self-regulating mechanism in which the level of one substance in body
influences the level of another.
1. Tropic movement
2. Nastic movement
1. Tropic Movement: The movements which are in a particular direction in relation to the stimulus are called
tropic movements. Tropic movements happen as a result of growth of a plant part in a particular direction.
There are four types of tropic movements.
(i) Geotropic movement: The growth in a plant part in response to the gravity is called geotropic movement.
Roots usually show positive geotropic movement, i.e. they grow in the direction of the gravity. Stems usually
show negative geotropic movement.
(ii) Phototropic Movement: The growth in a plant part in response to light is called phototropic movement.
Stems usually show positive phototropic movement, while roots usually show negative phototropic movement. If
a plant is kept in a container in which no sunlight reaches and a hole in the container allows some sunlight; the
stem finally grows in the direction of the sunlight. This happens because of a higher rate of cell division in the
part of stem which is away from the sunlight. As a result, the stem bends towards the light. The heightened rate
of cell division is attained by increased secretion of the plant hormone auxin in the which is away from sunlight.
(iii) Hydrotropic Movement: When roots grow in the soil, they usually grow towards the nearest source of
water. This shows a positive hydrotropic movement.
(iv) Thigmotropism Movement: The growth in a plant part in response to touch is called thigmotropism
movement. Such movements are seen in tendrils of climbers. The tendril grows in a way so as it can coil
around a support. The differential rate of cell division in different parts of the tendril happens due to action of
auxin.
2. Nastic Movement: The movement which do not depend on the direction from the stimulus acts are called
nastic movement. For example, when someone touches the leaves of mimosa, the leaves droop. The drooping
is independent of the direction from which the leaves are touched. Such movements usually happen because of
changing water balance in the cells. When leaves of mimosa are touched, the cells in the leaves lose- water
and become flaccid, resulting in drooping of leaves.
Plant hormones: Plant hormones are chemical which help to co-ordinate growth, development and responses
to the environment.
Type of plant hormones: Main plant hormones are
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