Control and Coordination (Science, Chapter 6)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms and definitions from the notes on nervous and hormonal control and coordination in plants and animals.

Nervous system

A network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits electrical impulses to coordinate body activities and responses to the environment.

Receptors

Specialised cells or sensory endings in sense organs that detect changes in the environment and convert them into nerve impulses.

Neuron

A nerve cell; the basic unit of the nervous system that transmits electrical impulses.

Dendrite

The part of a neuron that receives impulses from other neurons.

Axon

The long fiber of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where a chemical signal crosses the gap to continue the nerve impulse.

Reflex arc

A neural pathway that produces a quick, automatic response, often via the spinal cord, without involving conscious thought.

Central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord; the main coordinating centre for nervous activity.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Nerves outside the CNS that connect the CNS to muscles, glands, and sense organs.

Fore-brain

The part of the brain responsible for thinking and sensory processing; contains regions for hearing, smell, sight and interpretation.

Hind-brain

The part of the brain that controls involuntary actions; includes the medulla and cerebellum.

Cerebellum

Part of the hind-brain that coordinates voluntary movements and maintains posture and balance.

Medulla (medulla oblongata)

Part of the hind-brain that regulates involuntary actions such as breathing and heart rate.

Hypothalamus

Brain region that helps regulate many hormones by releasing factors that control the pituitary gland.

Pituitary gland

The master gland that releases hormones which regulate other endocrine glands and various body functions.

Adrenaline

A hormone released from the adrenal glands that prepares the body for 'fight or flight' by increasing heart rate and redirecting blood flow.

Hormones

Chemical signals produced by endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream to regulate body processes.

Endocrine system

The body system of glands that secrete hormones to regulate growth, metabolism, and other functions.

Thyroxin

A hormone produced by the thyroid gland that regulates metabolism; its production requires iodine.

Iodine

A mineral essential for making thyroxin; deficiency can lead to goitre.

Goitre

Enlarged thyroid gland due to iodine deficiency or thyroid dysfunction.

Growth hormone

A pituitary hormone that stimulates growth and development of the body.

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood glucose levels; deficiency or improper use leads to diabetes.

Testosterone

Male sex hormone produced by the testes; involved in male development and puberty.

Estrogen

Female sex hormone produced by the ovaries; involved in female development and menstrual cycle regulation.

Tropism

Directional growth response of a plant to a stimulus (growth towards or away from a stimulus).

Phototropism

Growth or movement of a plant toward or away from light, e.g., shoots bending toward light and roots away from it.

Geotropism

Growth response of plant parts to gravity, with shoots typically growing upward and roots downward.

Auxin

A plant hormone produced in the shoot tip that promotes cell elongation and directs tropic responses such as bending toward light.

Gibberellins

Plant hormones that promote growth, especially stem elongation and flowering processes.