Coordination and Response: Hormones and Adrenaline

Vocabulary-based flashcards covering the biological concepts of coordination, the endocrine system, the physiological effects of adrenaline, and the commercial uses of plant and animal hormones.

Coordination

The way the organs and systems of the body communicate with each other to function efficiently as one organism.

Nervous system

A form of coordination where the brain communicates with muscles of the body through electrical impulses carried by a network of nerves.

Endocrine system

A form of coordination by chemicals that take place through secretions carried in the blood stream to influence target organs.

Endocrine glands

Groups of cells or glands in the body that do not have ducts but produce specific chemical secretions transported by the blood stream.

Hormone

A chemical secreted by an endocrine gland, transported in the blood stream to affect a target organ.

Cell metabolism

The chemical processes that produce or use up energy in body cells to maintain life, which are controlled by hormones.

Adrenal glands

Endocrine glands found on both sides of the abdomen, located just above the kidneys, that produce adrenaline.

Adrenaline

A hormone produced by the adrenal glands during stressful, frightening, or exciting situations that gets the body ready for ‘fight or flight’.

Adrenaline effect on the Heart

Causes the heart to beat faster to supply muscles with more oxygen and glucose for respiration.

Adrenaline effect on the Brain

Signals the breathing centre to cause faster and deeper breathing to supply lungs with more oxygen and remove carbon dioxide faster.

Adrenaline effect on Skin Arterioles

Arterioles constrict to reduce blood in the skin and increase blood flow to the muscles, heart, and brain.

Adrenaline effect on the Digestive system

Arterioles constrict to reduce blood in the alimentary canal, and muscles relax to slow down peristalsis.

Adrenaline effect on the Liver

Converts glycogen to glucose to increase the supply to the muscles.

Auxins

A group of plant hormones or growth regulating substances produced in the tips of plant shoots and roots involved in cell division and elongation.

Commercial uses of Auxins

Promoting rooting of cuttings, regulating plant height, inducing flowering, and inducing fruit ripening.

Hormones in Animal Food Production

Used to speed up the making of proteins to grow muscles fast and to increase milk production in cows.