Chapter 7 – Control and Coordination (Vocabulary Review)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from Chapter 7 – Control and Coordination, including nervous and endocrine systems, plant hormones, and related physiological concepts.

Nervous tissue

Specialized animal tissue that conducts electrical impulses, providing rapid control and coordination.

Muscular tissue

Tissue whose specialized proteins enable contraction, producing movement and aiding coordination.

Cerebellum

Part of the hind-brain responsible for precision of voluntary actions, posture, and balance.

Motor areas (of brain)

Regions of the cerebrum that initiate and control voluntary muscle movements.

Temporal lobe

Fore-brain region that processes visual information (sight).

Medulla (medulla oblongata)

Hind-brain region controlling involuntary actions such as salivation, breathing, and heartbeat.

Receptor

Specialized nerve-cell tip that detects information from the environment; located in sense organs.

Gustatory receptor

Sensory receptor on the tongue that detects taste.

Olfactory receptor

Sensory receptor in the nose that detects smell.

Spinal cord

Part of the central nervous system that controls reflex arcs and links brain to peripheral nerves.

Nastic movement

Non-directional plant response to a stimulus, e.g., Mimosa leaf folding on touch.

Chemotropism

Directional growth of a plant part toward or away from a chemical stimulus, e.g., pollen tube toward ovule.

Endocrine gland

Ductless gland that releases hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Testosterone

Male sex hormone responsible for puberty changes in boys; secreted by testes.

Oestrogen

Female sex hormone responsible for puberty changes in girls; secreted by ovaries.

Endocrine system

Collection of ductless glands that coordinate body functions via hormones.

Pituitary gland

‘Master’ endocrine gland in the brain; secretes growth hormone and regulates other glands.

Growth hormone

Pituitary hormone that regulates overall growth and development; deficiency causes dwarfism, excess causes gigantism.

Feedback mechanism

Regulatory process that controls timing and amount of hormone release based on body conditions.

Hormone

Chemical messenger secreted in trace amounts by endocrine glands, transported in blood to target organs.

Synapse

Functional junction (gap) between two neurons where impulses pass via neurotransmitters.

Reflex action

Sudden, involuntary response to a stimulus that protects the body from harm.

Neuron

Structural and functional unit of the nervous system specialized for impulse conduction.

Dendrite

Branched part of a neuron that receives information and initiates electrical impulses.

Cell body (cyton)

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

Axon

Elongated fiber of a neuron that carries impulses away from the cell body.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical released at a synapse that carries an impulse to the next neuron or effector.

Hydrotropism

Growth response of a plant toward water; roots show positive hydrotropism.

Phototropism

Directional growth of plant parts in response to light, e.g., shoot bending toward light.

Tendril

Slender, touch-sensitive plant organ that coils around a support for climbing.

Auxin

Plant hormone produced in shoot tips that promotes cell elongation and phototropic bending.

Gibberellin

Plant hormone that stimulates stem elongation, seed germination, and flowering.

Cytokinin

Plant hormone that promotes cell division and delays leaf aging.

Abscisic acid

Plant hormone that inhibits growth and induces leaf and fruit fall; stress hormone.

Ethylene

Gaseous plant hormone that accelerates fruit ripening.

Adrenaline (epinephrine)

Adrenal hormone secreted during stress; increases heart rate, breathing, and blood flow to muscles.

Adrenal gland

Endocrine gland atop kidneys; produces hormones like adrenaline for emergency responses.

Thyroid gland

Endocrine gland in the neck that secretes thyroxine to regulate metabolism.

Thyroxine

Iodine-containing thyroid hormone that regulates metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Parathyroid gland

Endocrine gland embedded in thyroid; secretes hormones (e.g., calcitonin) for calcium balance.

Calcitonin

Parathyroid hormone that helps regulate blood calcium levels.

Pancreas

Mixed gland that secretes digestive enzymes and hormones insulin and glucagon.

Insulin

Pancreatic hormone that lowers blood glucose; deficiency leads to diabetes.

Glucagon

Pancreatic hormone that raises blood glucose levels.

Cerebrum

Largest part of the brain, responsible for thinking, memory, and voluntary actions.

Mid-brain

Brain region that relays sensory information and controls certain reflexes.

Pons

Part of the hind-brain that regulates respiration and links cerebrum with cerebellum.

Medulla oblongata

Brainstem part controlling involuntary actions like heartbeat, breathing, and vomiting.

Central nervous system (CNS)

Body’s control center consisting of brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Network of cranial and spinal nerves connecting CNS to the rest of the body.

Cranial nerves

Nerves that arise from the brain; part of the PNS.

Spinal nerves

Nerves that arise from the spinal cord; part of the PNS.

Sensory neuron

Neuron that carries impulses from receptors to the CNS.

Motor neuron

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

Reflex arc

Neural pathway connecting receptor to effector for a quick reflex response.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

Protective fluid cushioning brain and spinal cord against shocks.

Meninges

Three protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

Vertebral column

Series of vertebrae forming the spine; encloses and protects the spinal cord.

Goitre

Enlargement of thyroid gland due to iodine deficiency.

Diabetes (mellitus)

Metabolic disorder caused by insulin deficiency or ineffectiveness, leading to high blood sugar.

Dwarfism

Condition of abnormally short stature caused by growth-hormone deficiency.

Gigantism

Excessive growth due to overproduction of growth hormone in childhood.

Iodised salt

Table salt supplemented with iodine to prevent thyroid disorders such as goitre.