Control and Coordination Class X Science Flashcards

A complete set of key vocabulary terms and definitions covering control and coordination in animals and plants from Class X Science.

Coordination

Working together of the various organs of an organism to adjust various activities of life.

Stimulus

Any change in the environment (internal or external) that produces a response in an organism, such as light, sound, smell, touch, or temperature.

Receptors

Cells or groups of cells present in sense organs that detect stimuli and convert them into nerve impulses.

Photoreceptors

Receptors located in the retina of the eye that detect light and help in vision.

Phonoreceptors

Receptors located in the inner ear that detect sound vibrations and help in hearing.

Thermoreceptors

Receptors located in the skin that detect temperature changes (hot or cold).

Olfactoryreceptors

Receptors located in the nose that detect smells/odours.

Gustatoryreceptors

Receptors located in the tongue that detect taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami).

Effectors

Parts of the body (such as muscles and glands) that respond to impulses sent by the nervous system, converting them into actions.

Response

The reaction of the organism to a stimulus, such as moving a hand away from a hot object.

Neuron

The basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system; specialized cells that transmit information in the form of electrical impulses.

Cyton

Also known as the cell body of a neuron; the part containing the nucleus that processes incoming information and passes it towards the axon.

Dendrite

Branch-like extensions from the cell body of a neuron that receive information from receptors or other neurons.

Axon

The longest fibre extending from the cell body of a neuron that carries electrical impulses from the cell body to the axon terminal.

Nerve ending

The end part of a neuron's axon from where chemicals are released to transmit the impulse across the synapse to the next neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell.

Myelin Sheath

A fatty layer around the axon of some neurons that acts as an insulating layer, prevents loss of impulse, and speeds up transmission of nerve impulses.

Synapse

The gap/junction between the nerve ending of one neuron and the dendrite of the next neuron (or muscle cell), where electrical impulses are converted into chemical signals.

Nerve Impulse

The electrical signal that travels along the neuron, generated when a stimulus is detected by receptors.

Neuromuscular Junction

The point where a nerve ending meets a muscle, allowing the nerve's message to make the muscle contract.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers released from the axon terminals of a neuron that help transmit the nerve impulse across the synapse.

Sensory neurons

Neurons that carry messages from receptors or sense organs to the brain or central nervous system (CNS).

Motor neurons

Neurons that carry messages from the central nervous system (CNS) to effectors like muscles or glands.

Relay neurons

Neurons (also known as interneurons) that connect sensory neurons to motor neurons within the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

Voluntary Action

Actions controlled by our own will involving thinking and the brain, such as walking, writing, dancing, and jumping.

Involuntary Action

Actions that cannot be controlled by our own will and do not involve thinking, but involve the brain (e.g., pumping of blood, peristaltic movements).

Reflex Action

A sudden, automatic, and involuntary response to a stimulus without conscious thinking, controlled by the spinal cord to protect the body from harm.

Reflex arc

The pathway for a reflex action connecting a sensory nerve to a motor nerve, consisting of stimulus, receptor, sensory neuron, spinal cord, motor neuron, and effector.

Corpus Callosum

A thick band of nerve fibres in the brain connecting the left and right hemispheres of the cerebrum to allow communication between them.

Cerebrum

The part of the forebrain that controls intelligence, memory, learning, emotions, and voluntary movements like writing and reading.

Thalamus

Part of the forebrain that acts as a relay station, directing sensory signals to the cerebrum.

Hypothalamus

Part of the forebrain that regulates hunger, thirst, sleep, body temperature, and emotions, while controlling the pituitary gland.

Midbrain

The middle part of the brain located between the forebrain and hindbrain; controls certain involuntary actions and reflex movements of eyes, head, and neck.

Cerebellum

Part of the hindbrain that controls balance, posture, and coordination of body movements, such as riding a bicycle.

Pons

Part of the hindbrain that helps in relaying signals between different parts of the brain and controls breathing.

Medulla oblongata

Part of the hindbrain that controls involuntary actions like heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, vomiting, and salivation.

Exocrine glands

Glands that release their secretions through ducts to a surface or specific organ (e.g., salivary glands, sweat glands, tear glands).

Endocrine glands

Ductless glands that release hormones directly into the blood to act on distant target organs (e.g., pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands).

Hormones

Chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands and transported by blood to target organs for control and coordination.

Pituitary Gland

Endocrine gland located just below the hypothalamus in the brain that secretes growth hormone; known as the master gland.

Thyroid Gland

Endocrine gland attached to the windpipe that secretes thyroxine (containing iodine) to control carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.

Parathyroid Gland

Four small glands embedded in the thyroid gland that secrete parathormone to regulate blood calcium and phosphate levels.

Thymus Gland

Gland located in the lower neck and upper chest that secretes thymus hormone to help develop the immune system.

Pancreas

A dual/heterocrine gland located below the stomach; secretes digestive enzymes (exocrine) and insulin/glucagon hormones (endocrine) to regulate blood sugar levels.

Adrenal Glands

Emergency glands located on top of the kidneys that secrete adrenaline to prepare the body for 'fight or flight' responses during stress or emergency.

Testes

Male gonads present in males that produce sperms and the male sex hormone testosterone, controlling male puberty and secondary sexual characters.

Ovaries

Female gonads present in females that produce oestrogen (controlling female secondary sexual characters) and progesterone (preparing uterus for pregnancy).

Tropic Movement

A growth-dependent, directional response or growth of a plant part towards or away from a stimulus.

Nastic Movement

A growth-independent, non-directional response of a plant part to a stimulus, caused by changes in cellular water content.

Phototropism

Movement or growth of a plant part in response to light (e.g., stem bending towards light).

Geotropism

Movement or growth of a plant part in response to gravity (e.g., roots growing downwards).

Chemotropism

Movement or growth of a plant part in response to a chemical stimulus (e.g., pollen tube growing towards ovules).

Hydrotropism

Movement or growth of a plant part in response to water.

Thigmotropism

Growth or movement of a plant part in response to touch (e.g., tendrils wrapping around a support).

Auxin

Plant hormone produced at shoot tips that promotes cell elongation and controls phototropism and geotropism.

Gibberellins

Plant hormones produced in stem regions that promote stem elongation, seed germination, and flowering.

Cytokinins

Plant hormones present in high concentrations in fruits and seeds that promote cell division.

Abscisic Acid

Plant hormone that inhibits growth, causes wilting of leaves, closes stomata during water stress, and acts as a stress hormone.

Ethylene

Plant hormone produced in fruit-ripening regions that stimulates fruit ripening and promotes leaf fall and aging.