Control And Coordination: Types & Example

Control and coordination help organisms respond to changes in their surroundings and maintain balance in the body. These functions are managed by the nervous system through quick signals and the endocrine system through hormones for slower longer-term responses. Together, they ensure that proper body functions are maintained, such as movement, behaviour, and survival. This topic is from the Class 11 chapter Neural Control and Coordination in Biology and is an important topic for exams like NEET and AIIMS BSc Nursing.

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This Story also Contains

1. What is Control and Coordination?
2. Control and Coordination in Humans
3. What is the Nervous System?
4. Hormones in Animals
5. Control and Coordination in Plants
6. Homeostasis

What is Control and Coordination?

Control and coordination in living organisms help to maintain balance in the body or homeostasis and respond to changes occurring in the environment. Such systems enable animals to process information, make appropriate decisions, respond, survive and function properly.

Control and Coordination in Humans

Control and coordination in animals are majorly achieved through two systems, the nervous system and the endocrine system.

What is the Nervous System?

The nervous system is one of the major complex networks responsible for receiving, processing, and transmitting information within the organism.

• Completes the transmission of information between the different parts of the body.

• Controls voluntary and involuntary movements.

Central Nervous System

The central nervous system includes:

Brain

The human brain is divided into the following important parts:

• Cerebrum: It performs higher cerebral functions, thinking processes, actions, and sensory perception.

• Cerebellum: Integrates muscle movements, thus, maintaining posture and balance.

• Medulla Oblongata: Conducts all processes of life, such as heartbeat, breathing, and digestion.

Spinal Cord

The spinal cord transfers information from and to the brain about the rest of the body and controls reflex actions.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

• Somatic Nervous System: in charge of voluntary movements, comprising nerves transmitting signals to skeletal muscles

• Autonomic Nervous System: in control of a lot of involuntary functions, such as heartbeat and digestion.

• Sympathetic Nervous System: It prepares human systems to either 'fight' or 'flee.'

• Parasympathetic Nervous System: It allows humans 'rest and digest' opportunities.

Neurons

• Sensory Neurons: These neurons take information from the sensory receptors to the CNS.

• Motor Neurons: They carry commands from the CNS to muscles and glands.

• Interneurons: They provide a connection between sensory and motor neurons within the CNS.

Functions of the Nervous System

The nervous system plays a major role in the conduction and transmission of nerve impulses:

Conduction and Transmission of Nerve Impulse

Transmission of nerve impulses is the mode of neuronal communication that happens as changes in electrical potential across the neuron membrane.

• Resting Potential: Difference of electric charge existing across the membrane of a resting neuron.

• Action Potential: Sudden change in the membrane potential that travels along the length of the entire neuron.

Synapse and Synaptic Transmission

• Synapse: The point at which two neurons meet.

• Synaptic transmission: occurs when neurotransmitters are released from one neuron to the next to carry the signal.

Reflex Action

• The reflex actions are involuntary movements and almost instantaneous in response to stimuli.

• Rapid, automatic responses of a predetermined nature to specific stimuli.

• Safeguard the body and system against damage and maintain homeostasis.

Also Read:

• MCQ Practice on Nerve Impulse
• Neural Control and Coordination
• Action Potential
• Chemical Control and Integration

Hormones in Animals

The endocrine system controls various physiological processes through the action of hormones for a more extended period.

• Production and release of hormones

• Development, metabolism, and homeostasis regulation

Major Endocrine Glands and Hormones

• Pituitary Gland: Often called the "master gland," it controls other endocrine glands and releases growth hormone, prolactin, and oxytocin.

• Thyroid Gland: Produces thyroid hormones regulating metabolism.

• Adrenal Gland: Produces adrenaline and cortisol, associated with stress responses.

• Pancreas: Produces insulin.

• Gonads (Testes and Ovaries): Produce sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.

Interaction Between Nervous And Endocrine Systems

The hypothalamus in the brain links the nervous system to the endocrine system, controlling the pituitary gland and regulating hormone release.

Control and Coordination in Plants

Plants depend on hormones and environmental responses for control and coordination.

Plant Hormones

Plant hormones control growth and reactions to environmental stimuli.

• Auxins: cause cell elongation and are involved in phototropism and geotropism.

• Gibberellins: cause stem elongation, seed germination, and flowering.

• Cytokinins: cause cell division, and delay ageing leaves.

• Ethylene: controls fruit ripening and leaf abscission.

• Abscisic Acid (ABA): inhibits growth, and promotes seed dormancy and stress responses.

Tropism

Tropisms are directional growth responses to environmental stimuli.

• Phototropism: Growth in response to light.

• Geotropism: Growth in response to gravity.

• Hydrotropism: Growth in response to water.

• Thigmotropism: Growth in response to touch.

Mechanism of Tropic Movements

It involves redistributing hormones like auxins which promote growth towards or away from the stimulus.

Homeostasis

• Homeostasis is a process that maintains a stable internal environment.

• Necessary for the survival and normal well-being of organisms.

Mechanisms of Homeostasis in Humans

• Temperature Regulation: Maintained through sweating and shivering with changes in blood flow rates.

• Blood Sugar Regulation: Blood glucose levels are brought down by insulin and raised by glucagon.

• Osmoregulation: The kidneys maintain the balance between water and electrolytes.

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