7

• 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.
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
• Control and coordination are provided by nervous and muscular tissues.
• Nervous tissue is made up of an organized network of nerve cells or
neurons, and is specialized for conducting information via electrical
impulses from one part of the body to another.
Receptors : Are specialized tips of some nerve cells that detect the information from
the environment. These receptors are located in our sense organs.
(a) Ear : • Phonoreceptors
• Hearing
• Balance of the body

Control And Coordination 49

 (b) Eyes : • Photoreceptors
• Seeing
(c) Skin : • Thermoreceptors
• Heat or cold
• Touch
(d) Nose : • Olfactory receptors
• Smell detection
(e) Tongue : • Gustatory receptors
• Taste detection
Neuron : It is the structural and functional unit of nervous system.

Parts of Neuron :
(a) Dendrite : Acquires information.
(b) Cell body : Acquired information travels as an electrical impulse.
(c) Axon : Longest fibre on the cell body is called axon. It transmits electrical
impulse from cell body to dendrite of next neuron.
Synapse : It is the gap between the nerve ending of one neuron and dendrite of the other
neuron. Here electrical signal is converted into chemical signal for onward transmission.
REFLEX ACTION
Reflex action is quick, sudden and immediate response of the body to a stimulus. E.g.,
Knee jerk, withdrawal of hand on touching hot object.

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Reflex arc : The pathway through which nerve impulses pass during reflex action is called
reflex arc.

Response : Responses are of three main types :

(a) Voluntary : Controlled by fore brain. E.g., talking, writing.
(b) Involuntary : Controlled by mid and hind brain. E.g., heart beat, vomiting,
respiration.
(c) Reflex action : Controlled by spinal cord. E.g., withdrawal of hand on
touching a hot object.
Need of 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.
Human Nervous System

Central Nervous System Peripheral Nervous System

(CNS) (PNS)

Brain Spinal Cord Cranial Nerves Spinal Nerves

Arise from Arise from the
the brain spinal cord
HUMAN BRAIN
Brain is the main coordinating centre of the body. It has three major parts :
(a) Fore-brain (b) Mid-brain (c) Hind-brain
(a) Fore-brain : It is the most complex or specialized part of the brain. It
consists of cerebrum.
Functions :
(i) Thinking part of the brain.

Control And Coordination 3

 (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.
(b) Mid-brain : Controls involuntary actions such as :
• Change in pupil size.
• Reflex movements of head, neck and trunk.
(c) Hind-brain : It has three parts :
(i) Cerebellum : Controls posture and balance. Precision of voluntary actions e.g.,
picking pen.
(ii) Medulla : Controls involuntary actions e.g., blood pressure, salivation,
vomiting.
(iii) Pons : Involuntary actions, regulation of respiration.

Human Brain
Protection of Brain and Spinal Cord
(a) Brain : Brain is protected by a fluid filled balloon which acts as shock
absorber and is enclosed in cranium (skull or brain box).

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 (b) Spinal Cord : Spinal cord is enclosed in vertebral column.
Coordination between Nervous and Muscular Tissue

Limitations of Electric communication/Nervous system :

(a) Electric impulse will reach only to those cells that are connected by nervous tissue.
(b) 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.
(c) Plants do not have any nervous system.
Chemical communication : To overcome the limitations of electric communication.
COORDINATION IN PLANTS
Movements in plants :
(i) Independent of growth
(ii) Dependent on growth
(i) Independent of growth : Immediate response to 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.
E.g., Drooping of leaves of ‘Touch-me-not’ plant on touching it.
(ii) Dependent on growth : These movements are tropic movements i.e., directional

Control And Coordination 5

 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 : Are chemical compounds which help to coordinate growth,
development and responses to the environment.
Main plant hormones are :
(a) Auxin : • Synthesized at shoot tip
• Helps the cells to grow longer
• Involved in phototropism
(b) Gibberellin : • Helps in the growth of the stem
(c) Cytokinins : • Promotes cell division
• Present in greater concentration in fruits and seeds
(d) Abscisic Acid : • Inhibits growth
• Cause wilting of leaves
• Stress hormone
Hormones in Animals :
Hormones : 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.
Endocrine Gland, Hormones and their Functions
S. No. Hormone Endocrine Gland Location Functions
1. Thyroxine Thyroid Neck/Throat region Regulation of me-
tabolism of carbo-
hydrates, fats and
proteins.

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2. Growth hor- Pituitary (master Mid brain Regulates growth and
mone gland) development.

3. Adrenaline Adrenal Above both kid- Regulation (increas-

neys ing) of blood pres-
sure, heart beat, car-
bohydrate metabolism
(during emergency)
4. Insulin Pancreas Below stomach Reduces and regu-
lates blood sugar
level
5. (a)Testoster- Testis Genital/lower ab- Changes associated
Sex on in males domen area with puberty (Sexual
Hor- (b)Estrogen Ovaries maturity)
mone in females

Human Endocrine Glands

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).

Control And Coordination 7

 Diabetes
Disease in which blood sugar level increase.
Cause : Due to the deficiency of insulin hormone secreted by pancreas that is responsible
to control blood sugar levels.
Treatment : Injections of insulin hormone.
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.
E.g., Feedback mechanism to control the sugar level in blood is as follows :
Sugar level in the blood rises
↓
Detected by cells of Pancreas
Feedback sent

↓
Switch off

Synthesis of Insulin
↓
Blood sugar level falls
↓
Stop secreting more insulin

QUESTIONS
VERY SHORT QUESTIONS (1 Mark)
1. Where is auxin synthesized in plants ?
2. Which gland is known as master gland ?
3. Name the hormone that regulates blood sugar level.
4. What is synapse ?
5. What are tropic movements ?
6. Which part of the brain is responsible for maintaining posture and balance of our
body ?
7. Which hormone has inhibiting effects on growth of plants ?
8. What is phototropism ?

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9. What are the components of central nervous system ?
10. What happens at synapse between two neurons ?
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (2 Marks)
1. Draw a labelled diagram of neuron.
2. What is reflex arc ? Explain with the help of flow chart.
3. What is the cause of diabetes ? How it can be controlled ?
4. Why is it advisable to use iodised salt ?
5. What are sensory and motor neurons ? Write their functions.
6. Why is Abscisic acid called as stress hormone ?
7. What is the need for a system of control and coordination in an organization ?
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (3 Marks)
1. What are plant hormones ? Name a plant hormone that promotes growth in plants.
2. What is the significance of tropic movements in plants ? Explain any two types of
tropic movements.
3. Which hormone is known as emergency hormone in our body ? How it helps in coping
during emergency ?
4. Where are different receptors present in our body ? What are their functions ?
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (5 Marks)
1. Draw a labelled diagram of human brain and state the functions of its different parts.
2. What are hormones ? Give the name of associated gland and functions of different
animal hormones.
3. What is feedback mechanism ? Explain its working with the help of one example.
4. (a) How brain and spinal cord are protected ?
(b) What are the different parts of human nervous system ?
(c) What are the limitations of nervous system ?
VALUE BASED QUESTION
Rahul’s aunt is obese. She is very fond of eating sweets and junk food. She feels very
thirsty and passes excess of urine. She got herself examined by the doctor. Doctor told
her not to eat sweet things and exercise regularly. He prescribed some medicines also.

Control And Coordination 9

 Rahul helped her to follow doctor’s advice.
Now answer the following questions :
(a) Which disease is she suffering from ? Name the hormone responsible for this.
(b) What values are displayed by Rahul ?
Hints to Long Answer Type Questions
1. See the labelled diagram. Fore-brain, Mid-brain and Hind-brain.
2. Hormones : Secretion of endocrine glands.
Gland Hormone Function
(a) Thyroid Thyroxine Regulate the rate of growth and
metabolism
(b) Pancreas Insulin Regulate sugar metabolism
3. Feedback mechanism : Regulate the timing and amount of hormone released.
Working : Sugar level in blood rises, detected by the cells of pancreas which
respond by producing more insulin.
4. (a) Brain : Skull Spinal Cord : Vertebral column
(b) Central Nervous System (CNS) → Brain + Spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) → Cranial nerves + Spinal nerves

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