Control and Coordination – Nervous & Endocrine Systems

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture on plant and human control & coordination, focusing on the nervous and endocrine systems.

Receptor

A cell or group of cells in a sense organ that detects a specific stimulus (e.g., light, sound, smell).

Effector

A muscle or gland that carries out a response as instructed by the nervous system.

Stimulus (plural: stimuli)

Any change in the environment (light, heat, sound, etc.) that provokes a response.

Nervous System

Body system that coordinates actions via electrical impulses carried by neurons.

Endocrine System

System of glands that secretes hormones to coordinate long-term body functions.

Hormone

Chemical messenger released by endocrine glands and transported in blood to target organs.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Consists of the brain and spinal cord; processes and integrates information.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

All nerves outside the CNS that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.

Spinal Nerves

Mixed nerves that emerge from the spinal cord and supply most of the body except the head.

Cranial Nerves

Nerves that arise from the brain and mainly serve the head region; contain sensory and motor fibres.

Neuron (nerve cell)

Structural and functional unit of the nervous system that conducts nerve impulses.

Dendrite

Short, branched extension of a neuron that receives signals from other neurons.

Cell Body (Soma)

Central part of a neuron containing the nucleus; integrates incoming signals.

Axon

Long fibre of a neuron that transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body.

Sensory Neuron

Neuron that carries information from receptors to the CNS.

Motor Neuron

Neuron that conveys impulses from the CNS to muscles or glands (effectors).

Interneuron (Relay Neuron)

Neuron within the CNS that connects sensory neurons to motor neurons.

Neuromuscular Junction

Synapse where a motor neuron communicates with a muscle fibre to trigger contraction.

Photoreceptor

Light-sensitive receptor cell in the eye enabling vision.

Olfactory Receptor

Smell-detecting receptor cell located in the nasal epithelium.

Gustatory Receptor

Taste receptor cell found on the tongue.

Thermoreceptor

Temperature-sensitive receptor in the skin that detects heat or cold.

Brain

Major organ of the CNS responsible for processing sensory data and coordinating responses.

Spinal Cord

Elongated part of the CNS inside the vertebral column that conducts impulses between brain and body.