Control and Coordination Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive vocabulary flashcard set covering key terms, structures, plant movements, plant hormones, and animal endocrine system concepts from Chapter 6 Control and Coordination.

Gustatory Receptors

Specialised tips of nerve cells usually located in the tongue that detect taste.

Olfactory Receptors

Specialised tips of nerve cells located in the nose that detect smell.

Dendrite

The specialized tip of a nerve cell where environmental information is acquired and sets off a chemical reaction to create an electrical impulse.

Axon

The long part of a neuron along which an electrical impulse travels from the cell body to its end.

Synapse

The gap between two neurons where chemicals released from an axon end cross to start a similar electrical impulse in the next neuron's dendrite.

Neuromuscular Junction

A specialized synapse that allows the delivery of electrical impulses from a neuron to a muscle cell.

Reflex Arc

A direct connection formed in the spinal cord between sensory input nerves and motor output nerves to enable rapid automatic responses.

Central Nervous System

The main coordinating system of the body, consisting of the brain and spinal cord, which receives and integrates information from all body parts.

Peripheral Nervous System

The network of cranial nerves arising from the brain and spinal nerves arising from the spinal cord that facilitates communication between the central nervous system and the rest of the body.

Fore-brain

The main thinking part of the brain that contains specialised sensory areas, association areas for interpreting information, and motor areas for controlling voluntary movements.

Medulla

A part of the hind-brain that controls involuntary actions such as blood pressure, salivation, and vomiting.

Cerebellum

A part of the hind-brain responsible for maintaining the posture and balance of the body as well as the precision of voluntary actions.

Phototropism

Directional growth movement of plant parts in response to light, where shoots bend towards light and roots bend away.

Geotropism

Directional growth movement of plant parts in response to gravity, where roots grow downward and shoots grow upward.

Chemotropism

Directional growth movement of a plant in response to chemical stimuli, such as the growth of pollen tubes towards ovules.

Auxin

A plant hormone synthesised at the shoot tip that diffuses to shady sides to stimulate cell elongation, causing the plant to bend towards light.

Gibberellins

A group of plant hormones that help in promoting the growth of the stem.

Cytokinins

Plant hormones that promote cell division, found in higher concentrations in areas of rapid cell growth like fruits and seeds.

Abscisic Acid

A plant hormone that inhibits growth and causes effects such as the wilting of leaves.

Adrenaline

A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands directly into the blood that prepares the body for emergency 'fight or flight' responses by increasing heart rate and breathing rate.

Thyroxin

A hormone synthesised by the thyroid gland using iodine that regulates carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism to provide a balance for body growth.

Growth Hormone

A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that regulates the growth and development of the body.

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Hypothalamus

A part of the brain that plays a key role in hormone release by secreting factors, such as growth hormone releasing factor, to stimulate the pituitary gland.