Control and Coordination

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering human nervous and endocrine systems, brain structure, reflex actions, and plant movements/hormones based on lecture notes.

Stimuli

Change in the environment to which an organism responds.

Response

Reaction of an organism to a stimulus.

Coordination

Working together of various body parts to respond to a stimuli.

CNS

Central Nervous system, consisting of the Brain and Spinal Cord.

PNS

Peripheral Nervous system, consisting of Cranial Nerves and Spinal Nerves.

Cranial Nerve

Nerves that arise from the brain.

Spinal Nerves

Nerves that arise from the spinal cord.

Receptors

Cells, tissue or organs that receive the stimulus.

Effectors

Muscles/tissue/glands which act in response to a stimuli.

Photo receptors

Sensory receptors located in the eyes that respond to light.

Olfactory receptors

Sensory receptors located in the nose that respond to smell.

Gustatory receptors

Sensory receptors located in the tongue that respond to taste.

Phono receptors

Sensory receptors located in the ear that respond to sound.

Thermo receptors

Sensory receptors located in the skin that respond to heat or cold.

Nociceptors

Sensory receptors located in the skin that respond to pain.

Nerve

A bundle of fibres that carries signals between the brain and other parts of the body, enabling sensation, movement and other bodily functions.

Neuron

The structural and functional unit of the nervous system and the longest cell in the body; carries messages as electrical impulses.

Dendrite

The part of a neuron that collects information.

Axon

The part of a neuron along which the electrical impulse travels.

Myelin Sheath

Structure that prevents electrical signals from leaking out of the axon.

Cell Body

Takes information from the dendrite in the form of an electrical impulse.

Nerve ending

Part of the neuron where electrical impulses cause the release of chemicals.

Synapse

A microscopic gap between two neurons where electrical impulses cause the release of neurotransmitters to cross to the next neuron.

Sensory Neurons

Neurons that transmit impulses from receptors to the CNS.

Motor Neurons

Neurons that transmit impulses from the CNS to effectors like muscles or glands.

Relay Neurons

Also known as Interneurons; they connect sensory and motor neurons.

Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ)

Point of contact between the nerve ending of a motor neuron and a muscle fibre.

Voluntary Action

Actions controlled by will that involves thinking and the brain, such as walking, writing, dancing, or talking.

Involuntary Actions

Actions that involve the brain but not thinking, such as heart pumping, peristalsis, and digestion.

Reflex Actions

A sudden, quick, and involuntary movement in which thinking is not involved and the brain is not directly involved, such as blinking or sneezing.

Reflex Arc

The path followed by nerve impulses in a reflex action, usually forming a pathway in the spinal cord to allow rapid response.

Fore-Brain

The main thinking part of the brain consisting of the cerebrum and hypothalamus.

Cerebrum

Part of the fore-brain responsible for hearing, memory, reasoning, speech, emotions, interpretation, and voluntary actions.

Hypothalamus

Part of the fore-brain that controls hunger, thirst, and the secretion of harmones from the endocrine system.

Mid-Brain

Connects the fore and hind brain and controls some involuntary actions along with the hind brain.

Pons

Part of the hind-brain that regulates breathing rate and the sleep cycle.

Medulla

Part of the hind-brain that controls involuntary actions like blood pressure, heart beat, salivation, and vomiting.

Cerebellum

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

Cranium

The bony box of the skull that protects the brain.

Meninges

Three thin membranes that provide protection for the brain and spinal cord.

CSF

Cerebro spinal fluid, which sits between membranes to absorb shock and protect the CNS.

Corpus Callosum

A bundle of nerve fibres that connects the Right Hemisphere and Left Hemisphere of the brain.

Endocrine System

A network of endocrine glands that produces and releases harmones.

Hormones

Chemical substances that act like messenger molecules in the body.

Pituitary Gland

Located at the bottom of the hypothalamus; known as the Master gland because it releases many harmones, including growth hormone.

Growth hormone

Regulates growth and development of the body; excess leads to gigantism and deficiency leads to dwarfism.

GHRH

Growth Harmone Releasing Harmone secreted by the hypothalamus to stimulate the pituitary gland.

Thyroid Gland

Located below the larynx; secretes thyroxine to regulate carbohydrates, proteins, and fat metabolism.

Thyroxine

Harmone that requires iodine for synthesis and regulates FCP (fat, carbohydrate, and protein) metabolism.

Goitre

A disease caused by a deficiency of iodine, characterized by a swollen neck.

Adrenal Glands

Located above the kidneys; secretes adrenaline, also known as the emergency, flight, or fight harmone.

Insulin

Harmone secreted by the pancreas in the upper abdomen that regulates blood sugar levels.

Diabetes Mellitus

A condition caused by a deficiency of insulin, resulting in unregulated blood sugar levels.

Testosterone

Harmone secreted by the testes in males for the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Oestrogen

Harmone secreted by the ovaries in females for the development of secondary sexual characteristics like mammary glands and the menstrual cycle.

Feedback mechanism

Process by which the timing and amount of harmones released are regulated, such as responding to blood sugar levels.

Tropic Movement

Growth-dependent plant movement where the direction of the stimulus determines the direction of response.

Phototropism

Growth of a plant part towards (positive) or away from (negative) light.

Geotropism

Growth of a plant part towards (positive, like roots) or away from (negative, like stems) gravity.

Hydrotropism

Growth of a plant part towards or away from water.

Chemotropism

Growth of a plant part towards or away from chemicals, such as growth of a pollen tube towards an ovule.

Thigmotropism

Growth of a plant part towards or away from touch, such as tendrils winding around support.

Nastic Movement

Growth-independent, immediate movement that is temporary and reversible, such as the folding of Mimosa pudica leaves.

Auxin

A plant growth promoter (GP) that promotes cell elongation in shoots and controls phototropism.

Gibberellins

Plant growth promoters that stimulate stem elongation and are found in high concentrations in fruits and seeds.

Cytokinin

Plant growth promoter that promotes cell division and delays the ageing of leaves and flowers.

Abscisic Acid

A growth inhibitor (GI) or stress harmone that causes stomata to close, maintains seed dormancy, and causes wilting of leaves.