Control and Coordination

Vocabulary flashcards covering nervous system components, brain structure, plant movements, plant hormones, and animal endocrine system functions.

Neuron

The basic unit of the nervous system containing dendrites that convert sensations into electrical impulses traveling through the cell body and axon to the neuron end.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where an electrical impulse releases chemicals that cross to start a similar electrical impulse in the dendrite of the next neuron.

Reflex action

Immediate actions that do not need to be processed by the brain, controlled and coordinated by the spinal cord in response to a stimulus.

Reflex arc

The pathway in which impulses travel during a reflex action: Stimulus -> Receptor organ -> Sensory nerve -> Spinal cord -> Motor nerve (effector neuron) -> Effector (Muscle).

Forebrain

The top half of the brain responsible for storage, thinking, memory, feeling full, temperature, water balance, smell, and sight.

Hypothalamus

A part of the forebrain important for feeling full, temperature control, and water balance.

Cerebrum

A part of the forebrain responsible for smell and sight.

Midbrain

The part of the brain that controls changes in the size of the pupil and the processing of hearing and vision.

Hindbrain

The part of the brain consisting of the cerebellum and Medulla Oblongata.

Cerebellum

The bottom part of the brain that controls and coordinates movement, voluntary actions, body balance, posture, and equilibrium.

Medulla Oblongata

The connection part between the brain and spinal cord that controls involuntary actions like heartbeats, blood pressure, vomiting, salivation, and sneezing.

Olfactory receptors

Receptors that help detect smell and taste.

Gustatory receptors

Receptors that help detect smell and taste.

Peripheral nervous system

The part of the nervous system that helps in communication between the central nervous system and parts of the body, consisting of cranial nerves and spinal nerves.

Geotropism

Growth of a plant in response to gravity, consisting of negative geotropism (upward shoot growth) and positive geotropism (downward root growth).

Tropic movement

Plant movement that is directional, slow, and depends on growth, such as the growth of roots in search of water.

Nastic movement

Plant movement that is non-directional, fast, and independent of growth, such as the folding of leaves on a touch-me-not plant.

Plant hormones

Chemicals released by different parts of the plant body that diffuse to the area where they act.

Auxin

A plant hormone produced in the shoot tip that helps cells grow longer, diffuses to the shady side to make the plant bend towards light, and enables tendrils to cling around a support.

Gibberellins

Plant hormones that help in the growth of the stem.

Cytokinins

Plant hormones that promote cell division in fruits and seeds.

Abscisic acid

A plant hormone that inhibits growth and helps in the wilting of leaves.

Phototropism

The movement of a plant in the direction of a light stimulus.

Hydrotropism

The movement of a plant in the direction of a water stimulus.

Adrenaline

A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands associated with the kidney directly into the blood that targets the heart, increasing heart beat, breathing rate, blood sugar, pupil size, and alerting the brain during emergency situations.

Thyroxin

A hormone secreted by the Thyroid gland that regulates carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism in the body to provide the best balance for growth.

Goitre

A condition marked by a swollen neck caused by a deficiency of Iodine, which is essential for the synthesis of Thyroxin.

Growth hormone

A hormone secreted by the Pituitary gland associated with the brain that regulates body growth and development.

Dwarfism

A condition caused by a deficiency of growth hormone during childhood.

Gigantism

A condition caused by a surplus of growth hormone.

Estrogen

A hormone secreted by the ovary that causes changes in females.

Testosterone

A hormone secreted by the testis that causes changes in males.

Insulin

A hormone secreted by the Pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels.

Diabetes

A dangerous condition caused by an insulin deficiency leading to an increased blood sugar level.

Feedback mechanism

A mechanism that regulates hormone secretion in precise quantities in the human body to maintain balance.