Living organisms respond to change in the internal environment and the external environment.

Stimulus (plural:stimuli) change in the external environment or in the internal environment

Response and Coordination

Animals need to respond because :

Adapt to environment Protection from

Plants need to respond because :

Receive more

danger Safety (move to safer place) Regulate internal environment (homeostasis)

sunlight for photosynthesis Obtain better support Obtain enough water

Stimuli and Response

Stimuli
External stimuli changes that occur in

external environment e.g light, sound, smell, taste, temperature, pressure, touch Internal stimuli changes in the internal environment of the body e.g sugar level, body temperature, osmotic pressure of blood

Detecting and Responding to External Stimuli

Organisms have specialised group of cell (receptors) that detect stimulus in the afferent neuron. One receptor for one stimulus. Receptor will generate nerve impulse transmitted to the central nervous system via the afferent neurone. Effector will produce response.

Detecting and Responding to External Stimuli

The nervous system (integrating centre) interpret nerve impulses and then transmit nerve impulses to effector to produce response. Impulse from receptor is transmitted by afferent neurone. Impulse to effector is transmitted by efferent neurone.

Detecting and Responding to External Stimuli

Effectors such as skeletal muscles will contract/relax to produce movement. Effectors can be secretory glands:

Endocrine glands secretes hormones when

stimulated Exocrine glands e.g salivary glands secretes enzymes when stimulated

Detecting and Responding to External Stimuli

via afferent neurone

Nervous system

via efferent neurone

Nerve impulses

Receptor

Effector

detected by

produce

Stimulus

Response

Detecting and Responding to External Stimuli

via afferent neurone

Nervous system

via efferent neurone

Nerve impulses

Receptor

Effector

detected by

produce

Stimulus

Response

Detecting and Responding to Internal Stimuli

To regulate the internal environment so that it is at an optimum condition. Homeostasis regulation of the internal environment so that equilibrium is maintained. Involves negative feedback

When a factor in the internal environment

increase above normal range, negative feedback will occur to lower it.

Detecting and Responding to Internal Stimuli

Stimulus

Change in blood temperature Hypothalamus Thermoregulation centre Sweat gland etc

Receptors

Integration

Effector