CHAPTER – 6

Control and Coordination

Living organisms respond and react to various stimuli like heat, light, cold, touch, pressure etc.
Plants and animals both respond to stimuli but in different manner.
Example : Withdrawal of hand on touching a hot object.
Control and Coordination in Animals
It is brought about in all animals with the help of two main systems
a) Nervous System b) Endocrine System
Nervous System :
Functions
(i) To receive the information from environment
(ii) To receive the information from various body parts.
(iii) To act accordingly through muscles and glands.
Stimulus : Any change in environment or within that bring about the reaction eg: touching a hot
plate.
Response : The reaction of our body to these changes. eg. withdrawal of our hand
Receptors : Are specialised tips of some nerve cells that detect the information from the
environment. These receptors are usually located in our sense organs.

Neuron : Structural and functional unit of nervous system.

General scheme of how nervous impulses travel in the body-

The information, acquired at the end of the dendritic tip of a nerve cell, sets off a chemical reaction that
creates an electrical impulse.
This impulse travels from the dendrite to the cell body, and then along the axon to its end.
At the end of the axon, the electrical impulse sets off the release of some chemicals.
These chemicals cross the gap, or synapse, and start a similar electrical impulse in a dendrite of the next
neuron.
A similar synapse finally allows delivery of such impulses from neurons to other cells, such as muscles
cells or gland.

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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

Draw Figure 6.1 (a) Structure of neuron, (b) Neuromuscular junction

Synapse: Microscopic gap between the nerve endings of one neuron and the dendritic tip of
another neuron is called synapse.
Parts of a neuron - (i) where information is acquired- Dendritic tip of a nerve cell
(ii) through which information travels as an electrical impulse- Dendrite, cell body and axon
(iii) where this impulse must be converted into a chemical signal for onward transmission- At
the end of the axon (nerve ending)
Reflex Action
A quick, sudden, immediate response of the body to certain stimuli that involves Spinal
cord (not brain) eg. withdrawal of hand, knee jerk etc.
Reflex arc: The pathway through which impulses pass is called reflex arc. Reflex arcs are formed in this
spinal cord itself, although the information input also goes on to reach the brain.
Reflex arcs have evolved in animals because the thinking process of the brain is not fast enough.
Many animals have very little or none of the complex neuron network needed for thinking.
So reflex arcs have evolved as efficient ways of functioning in the absence of true thought processes.
However, even after complex neuron networks have come into existence, reflex arcs continue to be more
efficient for quick responses.

Draw Figure 6.2 Reflex arc

Flow chart of Reflex arc

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  Spinal cord is made up of nerves which supply information to think about.
 Thinking involves more complex mechanisms and neural connections. These are concentrated
in the brain, which is the main coordinating centre of the body.
 The brain and spinal cord constitute the central nervous system.
 They receive information from all parts of the body and integrate it.
 The communication between the central nervous system(CNS) and the other parts of the
body is facilitated by the peripheral nervous system(PNS) consisting of cranial nerves
arising from the brain and spinal nerves arising from the spinal cord.

HUMAN BRAIN
Human brain has three major parts or regions--
(a) Fore-Brain
(b) Mid-Brain
(c) Hind-Brain

Draw Figure 6.3 Human brain

FORE-BRAIN
Most complex/specialized part of the brain is CEREBRUM
FUNCTIONS :
1. Thinking part of the brain
2. Control the movement of voluntary actions.
3. Store information (Memory)
4. Specialised areas for hearing, smell, sight and so on.
5. The sensation of feeling full is because of a centre associated with hunger, which is in
a separate part of the fore-brain.
6. Receives sensory impulses from various body parts and integrates it.

MID-BRAIN: Controls involuntary actions.

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HIND-BRAIN:
Medulla oblongata- Controls involuntary actions like blood pressure, salivation and vomiting.
Cerebellum - Responsible for precision of voluntary actions and maintaining the posture and balance
of the body. For example walking in a straight line, riding a bicycle, picking up a pencil.
Pons- Controls Involuntary actions like regulation of respiration.

PROTECTION OF BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD-

Brain: Brain is enclosed in cranium (Bony Box). Inside the box, the brain is
contained in a fluid-filled balloon which acts as shock absorber.

Spinal Cord: Spinal Cord is enclosed in Vertebral column or backbone.

How does the Nervous Tissue cause Action?

 Nervous tissue collects information, sends it around the body, processes information, makes
decisions based on information, and conveys decisions to muscles for action.
 When a nerve impulse reaches the muscle, the muscle fibre move by changing their shape so
that they shorten.
 Muscle cells have special proteins that change both their shape and their arrangement in the cell
in response to nervous electrical impulses.
 When this happens, new arrangements of these proteins give the muscle cells a shorter form.

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 Immediate Response to Stimulus (NASTIC MOVEMENT)
These movements are fast.
The sensitive plant (touch me not) moves its leaves in response to touch. But there is no nervous tissue,
nor any muscle tissue. Movement happens at a point different from the point of touch. So, information
that a touch has occurred must be communicated. The plants also use electrical-chemical means to
convey information from cell to cell.

Q. Write two differences between the response of the plants and response of the animals to stimuli?

Response of the plants to stimuli Response of the animals to stimuli

There is no specialised tissue in plants for the Nervous tissue for the conduction of
conduction of information. information.

Plant cells change shape by changing the amount Animal muscle cells have special proteins that
of water in them, resulting in swelling or change both their shape and arrangement in the
shrinking, and therefore in changing shapes. cell in order for movement to happen.

Movement Due to Growth (TROPIC MOVEMENT)

These movements are slow.
Phototropism: The response of plant parts towards light.
Positive phototropism- movement towards light.
Negative phototropism- movement away from light.
Stems exhibit positive phototropism by moving towards the light, while roots demonstrate negative
phototropism by moving away from the light.
Draw figure 6.5

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Geotropism: The response of plant parts towards the Earth or gravity.
Positive geotropism- growth towards gravity,
Negative geotropism - growth away from gravity.
Roots exhibit positive geotropism by growing towards gravity, while shoots display negative geotropism
by growing away from gravity.
Draw figure 6.6

Hydrotropism: Movement of plant parts in response to water or moisture. For example, root movement
in search of water.

Chemotropism: The response of plant part to chemical

Positive chemotropism- movement towards a chemical stimulus. The growth of the pollen tubes towards
the ovules.

Q. Tendrils encircle or coil around the object in contact with it. Elaborate.
Tendrils are sensitive to touch. When they come in contact with any support, the part of the tendril in
contact with the object does not grow as rapidly as the part of the tendril away from the object. This
causes the tendril to circle around the object and thus cling to it.
Plant hormones (or phytohormones) :
Plant hormones are chemical compounds which help to coordinate growth, development and responses
to the environment. They are synthesised at places away from where they act and simply diffuse to the
area of action.
Main plant hormones are :
(a) Auxin : [Synthesized at shoot tip]
Helps the cells to grow longer, Causes Phototropism
(b) Gibberellin : Helps in the growth of the stem.
(c) Cytokinins : Promotes cell division, present in greater concentration in areas of rapid cell division, such
as in fruits and seeds.
(d) Abscisic acid : (Stress hormone) Inhibits growth
Causes wilting of leaves.
Q. How do auxins promote the growth of a stem towards light?
When growing plants detect light, a hormone called auxin, synthesised at the shoot tip, helps the cells to
grow longer. When light is coming from one side of the plant, auxin diffuses towards the shady side of
the shoot. This concentration of auxin stimulates the cells to grow longer on the side of the shoot which is
away from light. Thus, the plant appears to bend towards light.

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limitations to the use of electrical impulses-
Firstly, they will reach only those cells that are connected by nervous tissue, not each and every cell in the
animal body.
Secondly, once an electrical impulse is generated in a cell and transmitted, the cell will take some time to
reset its mechanisms before it can generate and transmit a new impulse. In other words, cells cannot
continually create and transmit electrical impulses.
HORMONES IN ANIMALS
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
Draw Figure 6.7 Endocrine glands in human beings (a) male, (b) female
Q. What happens when adrenaline is secreted into the blood stream?
When adrenaline is secreted into the blood stream, it is carried to different parts of the body. The target
organs or the specific tissues on which it acts include the heart. As a result, the heart beats faster, resulting
in supply of more oxygen to our muscles. The blood to the digestive system and skin is reduced due to
contraction of muscles around small arteries in these organs. This diverts the blood to our skeletal
muscles. The breathing rate also increases because of the contractions of the diaphragm and the rib
muscles. All these responses together enable the animal body to be ready to deal with the situation.
IODISED SALT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE: Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroxin. In case
iodine is deficient in our diet, we might suffer from goitre (swollen neck).
Feedback Mechanism
The timing and amount of hormone released are regulated by feedback mechanisms.
For example, if the sugar levels in blood rise, they are detected by the cells of the pancreas which respond
by producing more insulin. As the blood sugar level falls, insulin secretion is reduced.

Draw Table 6.1: Some important hormones and their function

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A comparison of the nervous system and endocrine system (or hormonal system) for the control and
coordination in humans.

Q. What is the difference between the manner in which movement takes place in a sensitive plant and the
movement in our legs ?
Answer:

Movement in a sensitive plant Movement in legs of a human

1. The movement in a sensitive plant is a response to
1.Movement in our legs is a voluntary action.
touch which is an involuntary action.
2. It is not controlled by any part of the plant. 2. It is controlled by brain and spinal cord.
3. Plant cells change their shape by changing the 3. Muscle cells contract or relax to show
amount of water in them. movement.
4. There is no special tissue for the transfer of 4. A complete system CNS and PNS is there for
information. the transfer the information..
5. Plant cells do not have specialized protein for 5.Animal cells have specialized protein which
movement. help muscles to contract.

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 Q. How is the movement of the leaves of the sensitive plant different from the movement of a
shoot towards light?

Q. How are involuntary actions and reflex actions different from each other?

Involuntary actions Reflex actions

Involuntary actions are the actions which are not Reflex actions are the sudden action in response
controlled by our will. to something.
They do not need any kind of stimulus to work. They required stimulus for its action.
These actions are regulated by the brain. These actions are regulated by the spinal cord.
They do not involve skeletal muscle. They do involve skeletal muscle.
These actions are performed throughout one’s These actions are produced in response to an
life. event of an emergency.
This action may be quick or slow. Reflex actions are always quick.
For example- Immediate withdrawal of hands
For example - The beating of the heart,
upon touching a hot cup of tea, closing the eyes
salivation, vomiting etc.
when bright light is focused.

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