→ All the living organisms respond and react to changes in the environment around them.
→ The changes in the environment to which the organisms respond and react are called stimuli such as light, heat, cold, sound, smell, touch etc.
→ Both plants and animals respond to stimuli but in a different manner.
Systems for Control and Coordination in Animals
→ Control and Coordination in animals is done with the help of two main systems:
(i) Nervous system
(ii) Endocrine system
→ Response: It is the final reaction after the reflex action.
Three types of responses:
(i) Voluntary: Controlled by fore brain. Example: talking, writing.
(ii) Involuntary: Controlled by mid and hind brain. Example: heart beat, vomiting, respiration.
(iii) Reflex action: Controlled by spinal cord. Example: withdrawal of hand on touching a hot object.
Need for Reflex Actions
→ In some situations such as touching a hot object, pinching etc. we need to act quickly, otherwise our body would be harmed. Here response is generated from spinal cord instead of brain. In this way, time for taking action is reduced which save us from injury.
Human Nervous System
→ Human nervous system consists of two parts, Central nervous system (CNS)and Peripheral nervous system (PNS).
→ Central nervous system consists of Brain and Spinal Cord.
→ Peripheral nervous system consists of Cranial Nerves which arise from the brain and Spinal Nerves which arise from the Spinal cord.
Human Brain
→ Brain is the main coordinating centre of the body. It has three major parts:
(i) Fore-brain
(ii) Mid-brain
(iii) Hind-brain
Fore-brain
→ It is the most complex or specialised part of the brain. It consists of cerebrum.
→ Functions of Fore-brain:
(i) Thinking part of the brain.
(ii) Control the voluntary actions.
(iii)Store information (Memory).
(iv) Receives sensory impulses from various parts of the body and integrate it.
(v) Centre associated with hunger.
Mid-brain
→ Controls involuntary actions such as change in pupil size and reflex movements of head, neck and trunk.
Hind-brain
It has three parts:
(i) Cerebellum : Controls posture and balance. Precision of voluntary actions. Example: picking pen.
(ii) Medulla : Controls involuntary actions. Example: blood pressure, salivation, vomiting.
(iii) Pons : Involuntary actions, regulation of respiration.
Protection of Brain and Spinal Cord
→ Protection of Brain: Brain is protected by a fluid filled balloon which acts as shock absorber and is enclosed in cranium (skull or brain box).
→ Protection of Spinal Cord: Spinal cord is enclosed in vertebral column.
Coordination between Nervous and Muscular Tissue
→ For taking place the voluntary actions, the brain has to send messages to muscles.
→ The communication between the central nervous system and the other parts of the body is facilitated by the peripheral nervous system consisting of cranial nerves arising from the brain and spinal nerves arising from the spinal cord.
→ The brain thus allows us to think and take actions based on that thinking. This is accomplished through a complex design, with different parts of the brain responsible for integrating different inputs and outputs.Limitations of Electric communication/Nervous system
(i) Electric impulse will reach only to those cells that are connected by nervous tissue.
(ii) After generation and transmission of an electrical impulse, the cell takes some time to reset its mechanism before transmitting another impulse. So cells cannot continually create and transmit impulse.
(iii) Plants do not have any nervous system.
Chemical communication
→ It helps in overcoming the limitations of electric communication.
Coordination in Plants
→ There are three types of movements in plants.
(i) Independent of growth
(ii) Dependent on growth
Independent of growth
→ Independent growth has immediate response to the stimulus.
• Plants use electrical-chemical means to convey information from cell to cell.
• For movement to happen, cells change their shape by changing the amount of water in them, resulting in swelling or shrinking of cells.
Example: Drooping of leaves of ‘Touch-me-not’ plant on touching it.
Dependent on growth
→ These movements are tropic movements i.e., directional movements in response to stimulus.
• Tendrils: The part of tendril away from the object grows more rapidly as compared to the part near the object. This causes circulating of tendril around the object.
• Phototropism: Movement towards light.
• Geotropism: Movement towards/away from gravity.
• Chemotropism: Growth of pollen tube towards ovule.
• Hydrotropism : Movement towards water.
Plant Hormones
→ These are chemical compounds which help to coordinate growth, development and responses to the environment.
→ Main plant hormones are:
• Auxin: This hormones synthesized at shoot tip. It helps the cells to grow longer and involved in phototropism (response towards light).
• Gibberellin : It helps in the growth of the stem.
• Cytokinins: It promotes cell division. This is present in greater concentration in fruits and seeds
• Abscisic Acid: It inhibits growth. It also cause wilting of leaves and also known as stress hormone.
Hormones in Animals
→ Hormones are the chemical substances which coordinate the activities of living organisms and also their growth.
• Endocrine glands : These glands secrete their product (hormone) into the blood and the main organ for releasing the hormones.
• The list of endocrine gland with the hormones names and their functions are given below:(i) Thyroxine: This hormone is secreted by Thyroid. The Thyroid is located in Neck/Throat region. It regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
(ii) Growth hormones: This is secreted by Pituitary (master gland). This gland is located in Mid-brain. It regulates growth and development.
(iii) Adrenaline: This hormone is secreted by Adrenal. The adrenal gland is located above both kidneys. It regulates blood pressure (increasing), heart beat, carbohydrate metabolism (during emergency).
(iv) Insulin: This hormone is secreted by Pancreas. The pancreas is located below stomach. It reduces and regulates blood sugar level.
(v) Sex hormones:
(a) Testosteron in males: This hormone is secreted by testis. The testis is located in genital area. Its changes associated with puberty (Sexual maturity).
(b) Estrogen in females: This hormone is secreted by Ovaries. The ovaries are located in lower abdomen area. Its changes associated with puberty (Sexual maturity).
Importance of iodine
Iodised salt is necessary because iodine mineral is essential part of thyroxine hormone secreted by thyroid gland. Thyroxine regulates metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. So, we must consume iodised salt which is necessary for proper working of thyroid gland. It’s deficiency causes a disease called goiter (Swollen neck).
Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar level increases.
Cause of Diabetes
The disease is caused due to the deficiency of insulin hormone secreted by pancreas that is responsible to control blood sugar levels.
Treatment of Diabetes
Injections of insulin hormone can help in the treatment of diabetes.
Feedback Mechanism
→ The excess or deficiency of hormones has a harmful effect on our body. Feedback mechanism makes sure that hormones should be secreted in precise quantity and at right time.
Example: Feedback mechanism to control the sugar level in blood is as follows:
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1. What is control and coordination in the context of biology? | ![]() |
2. How are control and coordination achieved in the human body? | ![]() |
3. What is the role of the brain in control and coordination? | ![]() |
4. How does the nervous system control and coordinate body movements? | ![]() |
5. What are the major organs involved in the endocrine system for control and coordination? | ![]() |