6.

Control and co-ordination

1. What is the difference between a reflex action and walking?

Solution:

Reflex actions are the involuntary actions that occur in response to stimuli. They occur without
involvement of conscious areas of brain. All the reflex actions are unconscious actions. Reflex
action involves the brain and spinal cord of central nervous systems.

On the other hand, voluntary actions are those which occur under the control of cerebellum of the
brain. Walking is controlled by the brain and is consciously used whenever required.

2. What happens at the synapse between two neuron?

At the synapse between two neurons, electric signals are converted into chemicals that can easily
cross over the gap and pass on the chemical messenger to the next neuron where it is converted
back to electrical signal.

3. Which part of the brain maintains the posture and equilibrium of the body?

Cerebellum, which is a part of the brain, is responsible for controlling the motor functioning.
Hence, it is the part engaged in the maintenance of posture and equilibrium of the body.

4. How do we detect the smell of an agarbatti (incense stick)?

The smell of an agarbatti is detected by the nose. The olfactory receptors present in the nose
sends electrical signal to the fore brain. The fore brain interprets this signal as the smell of the
incense stick.

5. What is the role of the brain in reflex action?

Reflex actions are formed instantaneously in response to a stimulus that has no time to think. For
instance, the sensory nerves that detect heat are connected to the nerves that move the muscles
of the hand. Such a connection of detecting the signal from the nerves (input) and responding to it
quickly (output) is known as reflex arc.

Reflex action are generated in spinal cord and the information also reaches brain. This helps the
brain to record this event and remember it for future use. Brain helps the person to get awareness
of the stimulus and prevent the danger posed by the situation in the future.

Questions Page number 119

1. What are plant hormones?

Plant hormones are the organic substances produced at certain sites of a plant and are
translocated to other parts based on the requirement. Plant hormones help to coordinate growth,
development and responses to the environment. Ex: Auxin’s Gibberlin’s, cytokines, abscisic acid
and ethylene.

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

Sl. Movement of leaves of a sensitive Movement of a shoot towards

no plant light

1 It does not depend on the direction of Depends on the direction of

stimulus applied. stimulus applied.

2 Nastic movement Tropic movement

3 Touch is the stimulus Light is the stimulus

4 Caused by the sudden loss of water Caused by the unequal growth

from the swellings at the base of leaves on the two sides of the shoot.

5 Not a growth movement Growth movement

6 Occurs very fast Occurs slowly

3. Give an example of a plant hormone that promotes growth.

Auxins and Gibberlins are the hormone responsible for the growth of plant.

Auxins are responsible for the cell elongation in shoot and also regulate growth.

Gibberlin is responsible for stem elongation and germination.

4. How do auxins promote the growth of a tendril around a support?

Auxins are the plant hormones produced at the tips of shoots and roots. Auxins are present at the
tip of tendrils. When tendrils are attached around any support, their growth is slowed down as
auxins are sensitive to touch. This makes them move to the other side of the tip to get support; this
makes the other side grow faster than the side of tendril in contact with the support and the tendril
bends towards the support.

5. Design an experiment to demonstrate hydrotropism.

To demonstrate hydrotropism in plants.

Procedure :

i. Plant a seedling in a vessel containing soil.

ii. Adjacent to the seedling put a porous pot containing water.

iii. Leave the set up for few days.

Observation :

iv. On examining the roots, it is observed that the roots bend towards the source of water and do
not grow straight.

Result :

It confirms that plants show hydrotropism as the roots bend towards the porous pot of water. As
hydrotropism is a plant-growth response in which the direction of growth is determined by a
stimulus of gradient in water concentration.

Questions Page number 125

1. How does chemical coordination take place in animals?

Chemical coordination takes place in animals with the help of chemical messengers called
hormones. Hormones are the chemicals that are secreted by specific endocrine glands. Hormones
regulate the growth, development and homeostasis of the animals.

2. Why is the use of iodized salt advisable?

Usage of iodized salt is advisable to avoid the deficiency of iodine. If the intake of iodine is low, the
release of thyroxine from the thyroid gland will be decreased. This affects fat, carbohydrate and
protein metabolism. Thus, a person may have goitre if the intake of iodine is lowered.

3. How does our body respond when adrenaline is secreted into the blood?

Adrenaline is a hormone secreted when a person is frightened or mentally disturbed. When

Adrenaline reaches the heart, heartbeat will increase to increase blood supply to our muscles.
Adrenaline also increases the breathing rate because of contraction of diaphragm and the rib
muscles. Adrenaline rush also increases blood pressure and allows entry of more glucose into
blood. All these occur when our body responds to the secretion of adrenaline into our blood.

4. Why are some patients of diabetes treated by giving injections of insulin?

Diabetes is a condition where the pancreatic cells of a person stops producing or reduces the
production of insulin hormone. Insulin regulates blood glucose by converting extra glucose to
glycogen. When insulin is not produced adequately, a person’s blood glucose level is affected and
this leads to adverse effects. In order to maintain the insulin and blood glucose levels, diabetes
patients are treated with injections of insulin.

Exercise Questions Page number 126

4. What is the function of receptors in our body? Think of situations where receptors do not
work properly. What problems are likely to arise?

Solution:

Receptors are present throughout our body – mainly in sense organs. Receptors collect the
information about changes that happen around us and send the signal/information to the brain
which responds to the change detected. When receptors do not work properly, the environmental
stimuli are not able to create nerve impulses and body does not respond.

5. Draw the structure of a neuron and explain its function.

Solution:

Neurons are nerve cells which are functional units of the nervous system. Three main parts of
neurons are Dendrites, Axons and cell body.
Dendrite: Detects information and sends it to cell body

Cell Body: Maintains growth of the cell

Axon: Conducts messages away from cell body and signal to next neuron.

6. How does phototropism occur in plants?

Solution:

Directional movement and growth of plant in response to light is called as phototropism.

Phototropism occurs due to increased auxin on the dark side and decreased auxin on the
illuminated side. Because of presence of more auxin, a leaf in the darker side grows faster causing
it to bend towards the source of light.

7. Which signals will get disrupted in case of a spinal cord injury?

Solution:

In case of a spinal cord injury, signals coming from the nerves, as well as the signals coming to
the receptors, will be disrupted. Both these signals meet in a bundle in the spinal cord. Hence,
both these signals get disrupted.

8. How does chemical coordination occur in plants?

Solution:

Plant growth, development and responses to the environment is controlled and coordinated by a
special class of chemical substances known as hormones. Hormones are produced in one part of
the plant and are transported to all the needy parts of the plant. The five major types of
phytohormones are auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, and ethylene. These
phytohormones are either growth promoters (such as auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, and
ethylene) or growth inhibitors such as abscisic acid.

9. What is the need for a system of control and coordination in an organism?

Solution:

There are various organs in an organism. These organs must be carefully controlled and
coordinated for the survival of an organism. In the body of an organism, various fluids are secreted
from the glands of the endocrine system. These hormones are responsible for the overall growth
and development of an organism. All other daily decisions that include voluntary and involuntary
actions are controlled by the central nervous system (CNS).

Coordination is needed for all human activities we perform. Our nervous system receives
information from surroundings which is processed and a response is elicited. The endocrine
system (hormonal system) helps in integrating various metabolic activities like reproduction,
development, and all reflex actions (cope up with various give up situations).

The hormonal system in plants helps in process of photosynthesis; they need carbon dioxide,
water and sunlight. The stomatal opening in leaves opens up to allow in carbon dioxide gas, the
roots bend towards water, the stem grows towards sunlight, and the tendrils in climbing plants are
supported by the hormonal system of the plant body.

Thus, we need a control and coordination system in an organism.

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

Solution:

Reflex actions Involuntary actions

1. Rapid automatic responses to a stimulus 1. Occurs without the

without the conscious involvement of the brain consciousness of an organism

2. Controlled by spinal cord 2. Controlled by mid brain or

medulla oblongata

3. Very quick and instantaneous 3. Relatively slower

4. May involve any muscle or a gland 4. Involves only smooth

muscles

5. Can be conditioned 5. Cannot be influenced by

external conditioning

Examples: Blinking of eyes, salivation Examples: Beating of heart,

blood circulation
11. Compare and contrast nervous and hormonal mechanisms for control and coordination
in animals.

Solution:

Nervous control Hormonal Control

1 It consists of nerve impulses 1 It consists of the endocrine system which

between PNS, CNS and Brain. secretes hormones directly into blood.

2 Here response time is very 2 Here response time is very long.

short.

3 Nerve impulses are not specific 3 Each hormone has specific actions.
in their action.

4 The flow of information is rapid. 4 The flow of information is very slow.

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

Solution:

Sl. Movement in sensitive plants Movement in our legs

no

1 The movement in a sensitive plant is a 1 Movement in our legs is a

response to stimulus (touch) which is an voluntary action.
involuntary action.

2 No special tissue is there for the 2 A complete system CNS and

transfer of information PNS is there for the
information exchange.

3 Plant cells do not have specialized 3 Animal cells have specialized

protein for movements. protein which help muscles to
contract.