Control and Coordination Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms and concepts of control and coordination in animals and plants as described in Chapter 6.

Gustatory receptors

Specialized receptors located in the tongue that detect taste.

Olfactory receptors

Specialized receptors located in the nose that detect smell.

Dendrite

The specialized tip of a nerve cell where information from the environment is first acquired.

Synapse

The gap between the end of an axon and the dendrite of the next neuron where electrical impulses are converted into chemical signals.

Neuromuscular junction

The point where nervous impulses are delivered from neurons to muscle cells.

Reflex arc

The connection where the detection of a signal (input) and the response (output) are completed quickly, typically formed in the spinal cord.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord; it acts as the main coordinating centre of the body to receive and integrate information.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Facilitates communication between the CNS and other body parts, consisting of cranial nerves from the brain and spinal nerves from the spinal cord.

Fore-brain

The main thinking part of the brain which contains separate areas for hearing, smell, and sight, as well as association areas for interpreting sensory information.

Medulla

A part of the hind-brain that controls involuntary actions such as blood pressure, salivation, and vomiting.

Cerebellum

A part of the hind-brain responsible for the precision of voluntary actions and maintaining the posture and balance of the body.

Phototropism

Directional growth movement of plant parts in response to light; shoots typically bend towards light while roots bend away.

Geotropism

The upward and downward growth of shoots and roots respectively in response to the pull of earth or gravity.

Chemotropism

Directional growth in response to chemical stimuli, such as the growth of pollen tubes towards ovules.

Auxin

A plant hormone synthesized at the shoot tip that helps cells grow longer and facilitates bending toward light.

Gibberellins

Plant hormones that, similar to auxins, assist in the growth of the stem.

Cytokinins

Plant hormones that promote cell division, found in higher concentrations in fruits and seeds.

Abscisic acid

A plant hormone that inhibits growth and is responsible for effects like the wilting of leaves.

Adrenaline

A hormone secreted from the adrenal glands directly into the blood to prepare the body for fighting or running away by increasing heart rate and oxygen supply.

Thyroxin

A hormone secreted by the thyroid gland that regulates carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism for optimal growth.

Goitre

A disease characterized by a swollen neck caused by a deficiency of iodine, which is essential for thyroxin synthesis.

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Feedback mechanism

A regulatory system that controls the timing and amount of hormones released, such as pancreatic cells detecting and responding to sugar levels.

Hypothalamus

A region that plays an important role in releasing hormones, such as the growth hormone releasing factor that stimulates the pituitary gland.