CHAPTER 6 CONTROL AND COORDINATION(Part-1)
❖ Control and Co-ordination in Animals:
❖ It is done by nervous system and endocrine system.
Nervous system
❖ It consists of Brain, spinal cord and nerves (set of neurons). . The nerve cell or
neuron is the functional unit of the nervous system.
❖ Functions of the nervous system
❖ Nervous systems receive information from the environment.
❖ To receive the information from the various parts of the body.
❖ To respond accordingly through muscles and glands.
The nervous system in humans can be divided into two main parts
1. Central Nervous System:
❖ The central nervous system is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain
controls all the functions in the human body.
❖ The spinal cord works as the relay channel for signals between the brain and the peripheral
nervous system.
2. Peripheral Nervous System:
❖ The peripheral nervous system is composed of cranial nerves and spinal nerves.
There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
❖ The cranial nerves come out of the brain and go to the organs in the head region.
There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves.
❖ The spinal nerves come out of the spinal cord and go to the organs which are
below the head region.
STRUCTURE OF A NEURON
Neuron: Neuron is a highly specialized cell which is responsible for the transmission
of nerve impulses.
The neuron consists of the following parts.
(i) cyton or cell body: The cell body or cyton or soma is star-shaped, with many
hair-like structures protruding out of the margin.
(ii) dendrites- These hair-like structures are called dendrites. Dendrites receive the
stimuli.
(iii) Axon: It is the longest part of the neuron. It is a single, elongated fibre arising
from one side of cyton.
The plasma membrane of an axon is covered by a protective sheath called myelin
sheath.
The branched axon endings are called a nerve ending which ends in synaptic knobs.
These knobs have synaptic vesicles with neurotransmitters. At the end of the neuron
electrical impulses set off the release of the neurotransmitters from the synaptic
knob, which crosses the synapse and starts a similar electrical impulse in the
dendrite of the next neuron
(iv) Myelin sheath: There is an insulator cover around the axon. This is called
Myelin Sheath.
Functions-
(a) It acts as an insulator
(b) It increases the rate of transmission of signals
(c) It protects the axon.
Types of neuron
1. Sensory neuron:
These neurons receive signals from a sense organ and send them to the brain or
spinal cord.
2. Motor neuron: These neurons send signals to a muscle or a gland.
3. Association or interneuron or relay neuron: These neurons relay the signals
between sensory neuron and motor neuron.
Synapse:
The point of contact between the terminal branches of axon of one neuron with the
dendrite of another neuron is called synapse.
Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ):
NMJ is the point where a muscle fibre meets a motor neuron carrying nerve impulse
from the central nervous system. Impulse transmission takes place by means of a
neurotransmitter.
Neurotransmitter.
❖ Chemical released from the synaptic vesicles at the axon terminal of one neuron.
❖ It crosses the synapse or neuromuscular junction to reach the next neuron.
❖ It transfers electrical impulse as chemical impulse.
Transmission of nerve impulse:
❖ Receptors receive the stimulus and reach the dendrite tip of a neuron that sets off
a chemical reaction which creates an electrical impulse.
❖ This impulse travels from the dendrite to the cell body, axon and finally reaches
the synaptic knob.
❖ Electrical impulse sets off the release of neurotransmitters) which cross the
synapse and start a similar electrical impulse in the dendrite of the next neuron.
❖ Nerve impulses travel in the following manner from one neutron to the next:
Dendrites → cell body → axon → nerve endings at the tip of axon → synapse →
dendrite of next neuron.
Stimulus- Any change in environment which results in a response is called stimulus.
Response- Reactions against stimulus.
RECEPTORS:
❖ Receptors are the specialized cells that collect information from the
environment.
❖ Receptors are present in the sense organs of the animals.
These are classified as follows :
❖ Audio or Phono-receptors: These are present in inner ear.
Functions: The main functions are hearing and balance of the body.
❖ Photoreceptors: These are present in the eye.
Function: These are responsible for visual stimulus.
❖ Thermo or thigmo receptors: These are present in skin.
Functions: These receptors are responsible for pain, touch and heat stimuli.
❖ Olfactory receptors: These are present in nose
Functions: These receptors receive smell.
❖ Gustatory receptors: These are present in the tongue.
Functions: These help in taste detection.
REFLEX ACTION:
It is defined as the sudden, unconscious, involuntary, spontaneous or automatic
response to a stimulus.
It is generally controlled by spinal cord.
Advantages of reflex action: -
❖ It enables the body to give quick responses to harmful stimuli and protects our
body.
❖ It minimizes the overloading of the brain.
REFLEX ARC:
❖ It is the pathway taken by nerve impulses and responses in a reflex action.
❖ The following flow chart shows the flow of signal in a reflex arc.
Stimulus Receptor → Sensory neuron → Relay neuron → Motor neuron →
Effector (muscle) Response
MECHANISM OF REFLEX ACTION
(a)Receptors receive the stimulus and activate a sensory neuron.
(b)Sensory neuron carries the message in the form of sensory impulse to the spinal
cord.
(c)Spinal cord acts as modulator. Relay neurons transmit the impulse to the motor
neuron
(d)Motor neuron conducts impulses to the effectors.
(e) Effectors show the response.
Cerebral reflexes—Reflex actions which are controlled by brain.
Eg- sneezing, salivation, blinking of eyes when exposed to bright lights.
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