Control and Coordination

Stimuli
The factors which bring response or change in the environment example Light, Heat, Cold, Sound,
Smell, Touch etc.
Hormones
These are chemical messengers which are secreted by endocrine glands. They coordinate the
movements in plants.
Receptors
These are special tips of some nerve cells that detect information from the environment. These are
located in our sense organs.
Receptors
1. Eyes
It acts as photoreceptors.
It helps in seeing.
2. Ear
It acts as phone receptors
It helps in hearing and maintaining the balance of the body.
3. Skin
It acts as thermoreceptors. It helps in feeling heat or cold and touch.
4. Nose
It acts as olfactory receptors. It helps in detection of the smell.
5. Tongue
It acts as Gustatory receptors. It helps in detection of taste.
Human Nervous System
Neuron

Structural and functional unit of Nervous System.

Parts of Neuron
1. Dendrite
It acquires information and receive impulse from other neurons.
2. Cell body
The information acquired by it travels as an electric impulse.
3. Axon
Longest fiber on the cell body is called axon.
It transmits electrical impulse from cell body to dendrite of next neuron.
It may be myelinated or non-myelinated Impulse transmission is faster in myelinated neurons.
Functions of Neuron
● The information or signals from receptors is acquired at the end of the dendritic tip of a neve cell as
chemical reaction that creates an electric impulse.
● This impulse travels from the dendrite to the cell body and then at the end of the axon.
● There is a gap between two neurons called as (Synapse). These chemicals cross the gap and transfers
the same signal to next neuron.
● Chemical are released at the end of the axon by the effect of electrical impulse.
Q. (a) How does chemical coordination take place in animals?
(b) It is advised to use iodised salt. Give reason. (Board Term 1, 2017)
Ans. (a) The endocrine system consists of specialised glands (endocrine glands) which brings about control
by sending chemical messengers termed hormones. These glands secrete hormones directly into the
blood. Flormones reach the target organs via blood and regulate the activities of these organs, thus
coordinating the functioning of living organisms and also their growth.
(b) Iodine is necessary for the making of thyroxine hormone by thyroid gland. Therefore, deficiency
of iodine in the diet can cause deficiency of thyroxine hormone in the body.
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain
● Highest coordinating centre in the body.
● Located inside the skull
● Protected by a box called Cranium.
● The brain is surrounded by 3 membranes called meninges.
● The space between the membranes is filled with Cerebra Spinal fluid.
● This fluid protects the brain from mechanical shocks.

Three Regions of Brain

1. Fore Brain
2. Mid Brain
3. Hind Brain
Fore Brain
● It mainly consists of Cerebrum
● Cerebrum is the main thinking part of the brain
● Site of learning, reasoning, intelligence, personality and memory.
● It also controls thoughts, Sensations, actions & movements.
● In formation from sense organs like (eyes, ears, nose, tongue or skin) is received in cerebrum.
 ● It also has motor areas from which instructions are sent to muscles to do voluntary actions.
Mid Brain
It is composed of the hypothalamus.
Hypothalamus
It lies at the base of the cerebrum.
It also controls the urges for eating and drinking.
It controls sleep and wake cycle of the body.
Hind Brain
It is composed of three parts
● Cerebellum
● Medulla
● Pons
Cerebellum
● It lies below cerebrum
● It coordinates the motor functions.
● It controls posture and balance.
● It controls voluntary activities.
Medulla
● If forms the brain stem.
● It lies at the base of the brain & continues into the Spinal Cord.
● It controls involuntary functions like hearing, heart beating and Respiration, salivation, vomiting.
Pons
● It also controls involuntary actions
● It regulates respiration
Spinal Cord
● A cylindrical structure.
● Begins in continuation with medulla.
● It is enclosed in a bony case called vertebral column
● It is surrounded by membranes called meninges
● 31 pairs of nerves arise from the Spinal cord.
● It is concerned with spinal reflections
● It helps in conduction of nerve impulses to & from the brain.
Peripheral Nervous System
Three types of Nerves
● Spinal nerves arise from the spinal cord along most of the length of the spinal cord and spread through
out the body (except the head).
● Cranial nerves arise from the brain and spread throughout the head. They carry both sensory and
motor neurons.
● The visceral nerves arise from the spinal cord. They are connected to the internal organs of the body.
They carry both sensory and motor neurons.
Reflex Action
It is quick, sudden and immediate response of the body to a stimulus.
Example – Knee jerk, withdrawal of hand on touching an object.

Reflex Arc
The pathway through which nerve impulses pass during reflex action is called Reflex arc.
Heat ⎯⎯ → Receptors ⎯⎯→ Spinal Organ ⎯⎯ → Effector Organ ⎯⎯ → Response
(Stimulas ) (Skin ) ( Muscles ) ( withdrawl
Hand
)
Response: It is final reaction after the reflex action.

Q. “Reflex arcs continue to be more efficient for quick responses”. Justify this statement giving reason.
(Board Term I, 2017)
Ans. Reflex action is an automatic and spontaneous response to a stimulus. The pathway taken by nerve
impulses and responses in a reflex action is called a reflex arc. It consists of receptor, sensory nerve
(afferent), spinal cord, motor nerve (efferent) and effector (muscles or glands). Reflex arc is evolved
in animals because the thinking process of the brain is not fast enough. Reflex arc enables the body to
give quick responses to harmful stimuli so that chances of damage to body are decreased. It also
prevents overloading of brain, so prevents its fatigue. Many animals have very little or none of the
complex neuron network needed for thinking. So, it is likely that reflex arc has evolved as an efficient
way of functioning in the absence of true thought processes. However, even after complex neuron
networks have came into existence, reflex arcs continue to be more efficient for quick responses.
Three types of Responses
1. Voluntary
Controlled by forebrain. Example – talking, writing etc.
2. Involuntary
Controlled by mid & hind brain. Example – heat beat, vomiting, respiration.
3. Reflex action
Controlled by spinal cord. Example – withdrawal of hand on touching hot object.
Need for Reflex Actions
● In situations like touching a hot object, pinching etc. a sudden response in required.
● Reflex action is generated from SPINAL CORD instead of brain
● So that time taken for action is reduced.
Glands
A gland is a structure which secretes a specific substance (or substances) in the body. A gland is made up of
a group of cells or tissue. There are two types of glands in the body:
● exocrine glands
● endocrine glands
1. Exocrine Glands
● Secretes its product into a duct (or tube).
● For example, the salivary gland secrets the saliva into a duct called salivary duct.
2. Endocrine Glands
● A group of endocrine glands which produces various hormones are called endocrine glands.
● The endocrine glands present in the human body are : Pineal gland; Hypothalamus gland; Pituitary
gland; Thyroid gland; Parathyroid glands; Thymus; Pancreas; Adrenal glands; Testes (only in males)
and Ovaries (only in females).
Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus gland is present in the brain. Hypothalamus produces ‘releasing hormones’ and
‘inhibitory hormones’. The function of hypothalamus is to regulate the secretions of hormones
from pituitary gland. That is how, hypothalamus controls the pituitary hormones.
Pituitary Gland
• Pituitary gland is present just below the brain.
• The pituitary gland secretes a number of hormones.
• One of the hormones secreted by pituitary gland is growth hormone (or human growth hormone).
• The growth hormone controls the growth of the human body.
• For example, growth hormone controls the development of bones and muscles.
• A person having a deficiency of growth hormone in childhood remains very short and becomes a
• dwarf.
• On the other hand, a person having too much growth hormone becomes very tall (or a giant)
Thyroid Gland
• Thyroid gland is attached to the wind pipe in our body.
• Thyroid gland makes a hormone called thyroxine (which contains iodine).
• The function of thyroxine hormone is to control the rate of metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and
• proteins in the body.
Goitre
• Iodine is necessary for the making of thyroxine hormone in the body.
• The deficiency of iodine in the diet of a person produces less thyroxine hormone and causes a disease
known as goitre.
Sources of Iodine
Seaweed, Fish, shellfish, Table salts labeled “iodized”, Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt), Eggs, Beef
liver, Chicken.
Q. Why is it advised to use iodised salt in our diet ? NCERT Exemplar
Ans. Iodine stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxin hormone. Deficiency of this hormone results
in the enlargement of the thyroid gland. This can lead to goitre.
Parathyroid Glands
• There are four small parathyroid glands which are embedded in the thyroid gland.
• Parathyroid glands secrete a hormone called parathormone.
• The function of parathormone hormone is to regulate calcium and phosphate levels in the blood.
Thymus Gland
● Thymus gland lies in the lower part of the neck and upper part of chest. Thymus gland secretes thymus
hormone which plays a role in the development of the immune system of the body.
● Thymus gland is large in young children but shrinks after puberty (or sexual maturity).
Pancreas
• The pancreas is just below the stomach in the body.
• Pancreas secretes the hormone called insulin.
• The function of insulin hormone is to lower the blood sugar level (or blood glucose level).
Diabetes
• Deficiency of insulin hormone in the body causes a disease known as diabetes.
• Diabetes is characterized by large quantities of sugar in the blood (and even urine).
• The insulin hormone controls the metabolism of sugar.
Adrenal Glands
• There are two adrenal glands which are located on the top of two kidneys.
• The adrenal glands secrete adrenaline hormone.
• The function of adrenaline hormone is to regulate heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and
carbohydrate metabolism.
• Adrenaline hormone is secreted in small amounts all the time but in large amounts when a person
is frightened or excited.
• When adrenaline is secreted in large amounts it prepares our body for action.
• It speeds up heart beat and breathing, raises blood pressure and allows more glucose
(carbohydrate) to go into the blood to give us a lot of energy quickly to fight or flight (run away).
• Adrenal glands are often called ‘glands of emergency’.
Q. A squirrel is in a scary situation. Its body has to prepare for either fighting or running away. State the
immediate changes that take place in its body so that the squirrel is able to either fight or run. (2020)
Ans. When squirrel is in a scary situation then its nervous system stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete
more adrenaline hormone into blood.
Testes
• Testes are the glands which are present only in males (men).
• Testes make male sex hormones called testosterone.
• The testes also make the male gametes called sperms.
• The function of testosterone hormone is to control the development of male sex organs and male
features such as deeper voice, moustache, beard, and more body hair (than females).
•All these changes caused by testosterone are associated with male puberty which the boys attain
at an age of 13 to 14 years.
Ovaries
• Ovaries are the glands which are present only in females (women).
• Ovaries make two female sex hormones called oestrogen and progesterone.
• The function of oestrogen hormone is to control the development of female sex organs, and female
features such as feminine voice, soft skin and mammary glands (breasts).
• All these changes caused by oestrogen are associated with female puberty which the girls attain
at an age of 10 to 12 years.
• The functions of progesterone hormone is to control the uterus changes in menstrual cycle.
• It also helps in the maintenance of pregnancy. The ovaries also make the female gametes called
ova (or eggs).
Feedback Mechanism
● The excess or deficiency of hormones has a harmful effect on our body.
● For example, the deficiency of insulin hormone results in a disease called diabetes whereas
excess of insulin in the body can lead to coma.
● The timing and amount of hormones released by various glands are controlled by the ‘feedback
mechanism’ which is in-built in our body. For example, if the sugar level in the blood rises too
much, they are detected by the cells of pancreas which respond by producing and secreting
more insulin into blood. And as the blood sugar falls to a certain level, the secretion of insulin
is reduced automatically.
Control and Coordination in Plants
● The plants do not have a nervous system and sense organs like eyes, ears, or nose, etc., like
the animals, but they can still sense things.
● The plants coordinate their behaviour against environmental changes by using hormones.
Plant hormones (Or Phytohormones)
● The control and coordination in plants is done by plant hormones (or phytohormones).
● The growth of a plant can be divided in to three stages:
1. Cell division
2. Cell enlargement
3. Cell differentiation (or cell specialization)
● There are four major types of plant hormones (or phytohormones) which are involved in the control
and coordination in plants.
1. Auxins
2. Gibberellins
3. Cytokinin’s
4. Abscisic acid (ABA)
1. Auxins
● Auxins are the plant hormones which promote cell enlargement and cell differentiation in plants.
Auxins also promote fruit growth.
● Auxin hormone controls a plant’s response to light and gravity.
● Auxin is made by cells at the tip of stems and roots.
● Auxins moves away from light, and towards gravity.
● Auxin speeds up growth in stem but it slows sown growth in roots.
● Synthetic auxins are applied in agriculture and horticulture.
Q. State how concentration of auxin stimulates the cells to grow longer on the side of the shoot which is
away from light ? NCERT Exemplar

Ans. When light falls on the side of the shoot auxin diffuses towards the shady side of the shoot. This
concentration of the auxin stimulates the cell to grow longer on the side of the shoot which is away from
light. Thus plant appears to bend towards light.

2. Gibberellins
● Gibberellins are plant hormones which promote cell enlargement and cell differentiation in
the presence of auxins.
● Gibberellins help in breaking the dormancy in seeds and buds. They also promote growth in
fruits.
● Gibberellin hormone is involved mainly in shoot extensions. Gibberellin stimulates
elongation of shoots of various plants.
3. Cytokinin’s
● Cytokinin’s are the plant hormones which promote cell division in plants.
● Cytokinin’s also help in breaking the dormancy of seeds and buds. They delay the ageing in leaves.
● Cytokinin’s promote the opening of stomata. They also promote fruit growth.
4. Abscisic Acid (ABA)
● Abscisic acid is a plant hormone which functions mainly as a growth inhibitor.
● It promotes the dormancy in seeds and buds (this is the opposite of breaking of dormancy).
It also promotes the closing of stomata.
● It promotes the wilting and falling of leaves (which is called abscission). It also causes the
detachment of flowers and fruits from the plants.
Tropisms (Or Tropic Movements)
● A growth movement of a plant part in response to an external stimulus in which the direction
of stimulus determines the direction of response is called tropism.
● Thus, tropism is a directional movement of the part of a plant caused by its growth.
● If the growth (or movement) of a plant part is towards the stimulus, it is called positive tropism.
● If the growth (or movement) of a plant part is away from the stimulus, then it is called negative tropism.
Types of Tropisms
Stimulus Types of Tropism
Light Phototropism
Gravity Geotropism
Chemical Chemotropism
Water Hydrotropism
Touch Thigmotropism
1. Phototropism
● The movement of a plant part in response to light is called phototropism
● If the plant part moves towards light, it is called positive phototropism.
● On the other hand, if the plant part moves away from light, then it is called negative
phototropism.
● The stem (or shoot) of a growing plant bends towards light, so the stem (or shoot) of a plant
shows positive phototropism.
● On the other hand, the roots of a plant move away from light, so the roots of a plant show
negative phototropism.
2. Geotropism
● The movement of a plant part in response
to gravity is called geotropism.
● If the plant part moves in the direction of
gravity, it is called positive geotropism.
● On the other hand, if the plant part moves
against the direction of gravity, it is negative
geotropism.
3. Chemotropism
● The movement of a plant part in response to a chemical stimulus is called chemotropism.
● If the plant part shows plant part shows movement (or growth) towards the chemical, it is
called positive chemotropism.
● If the plant part shows movement (or growth) away from the chemical, then it is called
negative chemotropism.
4. Hydrotropism
● The movement of a plant part in response to water is called hydrotropism.
● If the plant part moves towards water, it is called positive hydrotropism.
● if the plant part moves away from water, then it is called negative hydrotropism.
5. Thigmotropism
● The directional growth movement of a plant part in response to the touch of an object is
called thigmotropism.
● The directional growth movement of a plant part in response to the touch of an object is
called thigmotropism.
Response of Plants to Light: Phototropism
● Plants need sunlight, so the stems (or shoots) respond to sunlight by growing towards it.
● This observation shows that the stem of plant responds to light and bends towards it.
● The plant stem responds to light and bends towards it due to the action of ‘auxin hormone.
● When sunlight comes from above, then the auxin hormone present in the tip of the stem
spreads uniformly down the stem. Due to the equal presence of auxin, both the sides of the
stem grow equally rapidly. And the stem grows straight up.
● When the light falls only on the right side of the stem, then the auxin hormone collects in the
left side of the stem, away from light. This is because auxin hormone prefers to stay in shade.
The Response of Plants to Gravity: Geotropism
● The roots of plants always grow downward in response to gravity. This makes sure that they
will find soil and water.
● The stems (or shoots) of plants always grow up, away from the pull of gravity. This makes sure
that they will get light.
Response of Plants to Chemicals: Chemotropism
● The growth (or movement) of a plant part due to chemical stimulus is known as chemotropism.
● The growth (or movement) of a pollen tube towards the ovule induced by a sugary substance as
stimulus, is an example of chemotropism.
● The ripe stigma in the carpel of flower secretes a chemical substance (which is a sugary
substance) into the style towards the ovary.
● This sugary substance acts as a stimulus for the pollen grains which fall on the stigma of the
carpel.
● The pollen grain responds to this stimulus by growing a pollen tube in the downward direction
into the style of the carpel and reaches the ovule in the ovary of the flower for carrying out
fertilization.
 ● This growth of the pollen tube in response to a chemical substance secreted by the stigma of a
flower is an example of Chemotropism.
Response of Plants to Water: Hydrotropism
The roots of plants always go towards water, even if it means going against the pull of gravity.
Thigmotropism
● Tendrils are the thin, thread-like growth on the stems or leaves of climbing plants.
● Thus, there are two types of tendrils : stem tendrils and leaf tendrils.
● Tendrils are sensitive to the touch (or contact) of other objects.
● Tendrils are positive thigmotrophic which means that they grow towards things they happen to
touch.
Nasties (Or Nastic Movements)
● The movement of a plant part in response to an external stimulus in which the direction of
response is not determined by the direction of stimulus is called nastic movement.
● The folding up of the leaves of a sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica) on touching is an example of
nastic movement. Here the stimulus is touch.
Examples
● The opening up of the petals of dandelion flowers in morning in bright light and closing in the
evening when the light fades is an example of nastic movement. In this case the stimulus is
light.
● The closing of the petals of moonflower in the morning in bright light and opening at dark
when the light fades is also an example of nastic movement. In this case also the stimulus is
light.
Thigmonasty
● The non-directional movement of a plant part in response to the touch of an object is called
thigmonasty.
● The nastic movement in plants caused by touch (or thigmonasty) is provided by the sensitive
plant (Mimosa pudica) which is also known as touch-me-not plant. It is called chhui-mui in
Hindi.
● If we touch the leaves (or rather leaflets) of the sensitive plant with our fingers, then its leaves
fold up and droop almost immediately.
● The folding up of the leaves of a sensitive plant on touching is due to the sudden loss of water
from pad-like swellings called ‘pulvini’ present at the base of all leaves of the sensitive plant
which make the pulvini lose their firmness causing the leaves to droop and fall.
Photonasty
● The non-directional movement of a plant part (usually petals of flowers) in response to light is
called photonasty.
● The opening and closing of flowers in response to light (or photonasty) are growth movements.
● Petals open when their inner surfaces grow more than their outer surfaces. On the other hand,
petals close when their outer surfaces grow more than their inner surfaces.
Functions of Plant Hormones (Or Phytohormones)
● Germination of seeds (or Breaking the dormancy of seeds)
● Growth of root, stem and leaves
● Movement of stomata (or stomatal movement) in leaves
● Flowering of plants
● Ripening of fruits
● Phototropism, geotropism, chemotropism, hydrotropism, thigmotropism and nastic movements.

Notes End
 Important NCERT Questions
Q. A gland secretes a particular hormone. The deficiency of this hormone in the body causes a particular
disease in which the blood sugar level rises.
(i) Name the gland and the hormone secreted by it.
(ii) Mention the role played by this hormone.
(iii) Name the disease caused due to deficiency of this hormone. (Board Term I, 2013)
Ans. (i) Pancreas secretes insulin hormone.
(ii) Insulin regulates the conversion of glucose to glycogen, i.e., it lowers blood glucose level.
(iii) Deficiency of insulin hormone causes diabetes mellitus.
Q. Why is it advised to use iodised salt in our diet ?
Ans. Iodine stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxin hormone. Deficiency of this hormone results
in the enlargement of the thyroid gland. This can lead to goitre.
Q. State how concentration of auxin stimulates the cells to grow longer on the side of the shoot which is
away from light ?
Ans. When light falls on the side of the shoot auxin diffuses towards the shady side of the shoot. This
concentration of the auxin stimulates the cell to grow longer on the side of the shoot which is away
from light. Thus plant appears to bend towards light.
Q. What is synapse ? In a neuron cell how is an electrical impulse created and what is the role of synapse
in this context ?
Ans. A synapse is the gap between the two neurons. Here the axon terminal of one neuron is in close
proximity to the dendrite of the second neuron. When a nerve impulse reaches the knob like nerve
ending of an axon, a tiny amount of a chemical substance is released in the synapse. This chemical
substance is called as the neurotransmitter. At synapse the electrical signals converted into chemicals,
that can easily cross over the gap and pass on to the next neurons where it again converted into
electrical signals.
Q. Give an example of a plant hormone that promotes its growth. Where it is synthesized ?
Ans. Plant hormone that promotes growth is auxin. It is synthesized at the tip of the plant stem.
Q. (i) Name the hormones that are released in human males and females when they reach puberty.
(ii) Name a gland associated with brain. Which problem is caused due to the deficiency of the hormone
released by this gland ?
Ans. (i) Testes in males produces hormone testosterone.
Ovaries in females produces hormone oestrogen.
(ii)Pituitary gland present in the brain is responsible for body growth, development of bones and
muscles (if excess-gigantism) (if less-dwarfism).
Q. Write one example each of the following tropic movements :
(i) Positive phototropism (ii) Negative phototropism
(iii) Positive geotropism (iv) Negative geotropism
(v) Hydrotropism (vi) Chemotropism
Ans. (i) Positive phototropism: shoots growing towards light.
(ii)Negative phototropism: roots growing away from light towards ground.
(iii) Positive geotropism: growth of roots towards earth due to the pull of the earth.
(iv)Negative geotropism: shoots growing away from the earth.
(v) Hydrotropism: roots growing towards the source of water.
 (vi)Chemotropism: growth of pollen tubes towards the ovules.
Q. State the function of:
(i) gustatory receptors, and
(ii) olfactory receptors.
Ans. (i) Gustatory receptors – these are sensitive to taste
(ii) Olfactory receptors – these are sensitive to smell.
Q. (a) How is brain protected from injury and shock?
(b) Name two main parts of hind brain and state the functions of each.
Ans. (a) Brain is covered by a three layered membrane called meninges. In between the layers of meninges
and brain, cavity fluid named Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF) is filled. The hard skull covers the meninges.
Thus Meninges, CSF and Skull protects our brain for a certain extent.
(b) Two main parts of hind-brain are — Medulla and Cerebellum. Their functions are:
Medulla : Involuntary actions such as blood pressure, salivation and vomiting.
Cerebellum : It is responsible for precision of voluntary actions and maintaining the posture and
balance of the body.
Q. (a) Explain how auxins help in bending of plant stem towards light.
(b) State the objective of the experiment for which experimental set-up is shown in the given diagram.
Ans. (a) In plant shoots, the role of auxin is to cause a positive phototropism, i.e. to grow the plant towards
the light. When light is incident on a plant from one direction, it causes the auxins to redistribute
towards the shaded side of the plant. One function of auxin is to cause cell elongation. The
redistribution causes the cells on the shaded side to elongate more than those on the side with the light
shining on them. This causes the shoot to bend towards the light.
(b) The objective of the experiment is to show phototropic movement of plant.