Control and Coordination is the process by which living organisms respond to stimuli and maintain body balance.
In Animals:
- Nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves) controls quick actions.
- Endocrine system (hormones) controls slow, long-lasting changes.
- Neurons carry messages as electrical signals.
- Example: Moving hand away from hot object (reflex action).
In Plants:
- Use hormones (phytohormones) to respond to light, gravity, touch, etc.
- Example: Plant bends towards light due to auxin (phototropism).
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Questions on Control and Coordination
Showing 1–30 of 2561.Imagine a scenario where the hypothalamus fails to produce releasing hormones that stimulate the pituitary gland. What broad impact would this have on the entire endocrine system? 2.A person has difficulty understanding spoken language despite hearing it clearly, and also struggles with producing coherent speech. Which lobe of the cerebrum is likely affected? 3.Mimosa pudica (Touch-me-not plant) folds its leaves rapidly upon touch. Is this an example of tropism or nastism, and why? 4.Tabulate two key differences between the nervous system and the hormonal system in terms of their speed and duration of action. 5.Explain why a person with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) might experience weight loss despite an increased appetite. 6.Farmers prune the shoot tips of plants to make them bushy. Which plant hormone's action is being counteracted by this practice? 7.Why is it important for the brain to be protected by the skull and cerebrospinal fluid? 8.Which hormone is responsible for regulating the basal metabolic rate of the body? 9.If a plant is grown in a completely dark environment, but rotated regularly on a clinostat, how would its growth be affected, particularly concerning geotropism? 10.How does the central nervous system distinguish between different types of sensory stimuli (e.g., light vs. sound vs. touch) despite all signals being electrical impulses? 11.What could be the long-term health consequences of an untreated deficiency of growth hormone in a child? 12.Why do complex organisms have specialized organs like the brain for coordination, whereas simpler organisms might not? 13.A scientist observes that the shoot of a plant grows straight upwards even when exposed to light from only one side, while another plant of the same species bends towards the light. What might explain this difference in the first plant? 14.If a person's blood calcium levels are consistently very low, which gland might be malfunctioning, and what hormone would be deficient? 15.Distinguish between voluntary and involuntary actions with respect to their control mechanisms in the nervous system. 16.Why is a negative feedback mechanism more common and beneficial in maintaining homeostasis compared to a positive feedback mechanism? 17.Which plant hormone is known as a stress hormone and plays a role in closing stomata during water stress? 18.What would be the likely consequence of damage to the myelin sheath around axons in the central nervous system? 19.A teenager is undergoing significant physical changes, including the development of secondary sexual characteristics. Which pair of hormones is primarily responsible for these changes in males and females, respectively? 20.Why do plants respond differently to gravity depending on whether it's a shoot or a root? 21.A doctor taps the knee of a patient, causing an involuntary kick. What does this test assess, and what components of the nervous system are involved? 22.How do insulin and glucagon work antagonistically to maintain blood glucose homeostasis? 23.Which plant hormone is commonly sprayed on grapes to increase the size of the fruit and to make the stalks longer? 24.If the medulla oblongata is severely damaged, what immediate and critical effects would be observed in a person? 25.A deficiency of iodine in the diet can lead to a condition called goitre. Explain the underlying hormonal mechanism for this condition. 26.Why are reflex actions crucial for the survival of an organism? Give two reasons. 27.A plant growing in a dark room bends towards a window through which light enters. Which phytohormone is primarily responsible for this bending, and how does it cause this effect? 28.Why is the pituitary gland often referred to as the "master gland," despite being controlled by the hypothalamus? 29.If a person loses the ability to feel pain or temperature changes on their skin, which part of the cerebrum is likely affected? 30.Compare the roles of auxins and gibberellins in plant growth and development.