Biology

Coordination and response

Biology12/20
- Unit 10/20
 Coordination

Stimulus

Nerves

Response
Specialised cell: motor neurone

Nerve
impulses

(protein and fat)

 Nerve
Cell

Electrical
wire Insulato
r

Myeli
n
CNS
Response to a stimulus
3 types of neurones
Reflex arc

3 2
Reflex arc
(BBC - 0 to 3:35)
Synapse
 Numbers about neurones and
synapses

86 billion neurones in the adult

human brain.
Synaptic cleft: gap between the pre- and
postsynaptic cells
20 nm
wide
Adult human brain: 5 × 1014 (500 000 billions)
synapses.
1 mm3 of cerebral cortex: a billion (109) of
synapses.
Structure of the eye

Fluid to
keep the
shape

Brai
n
When an object is far away

Refraction of light

tighten
When an object is close up (accommodation)

Refraction of light
 Rods and cones are
photo detectors because
changes in intensity and
can detect low intensity detect high intensity colour are converted by
light on a grey scale light and different
them into electrical
wavelengths or colours.
signals which are then
interpreted by the brain.
 Ciliary Suspens
muscl ory
relaxed e ligament
pulled tight

lens lens
stretched relaxed

slack
contracted
 HormonesAnother communication system

(in an endocrine
gland)

Blood
vessel

(in a target
organ)
 Endocrine glands
ADH
(vasopr
essin)
kidne
ys

Adrenali
ne
Insulin /
Glucagon
Oestrog
en
Testoster
one

Adrenaline helps to cope with danger: (1) Increases heart beat rate and breathing rate → more
oxygen supplied to brain and muscles. (2) Liver releases more glucose into the blood → more aerobic
respiration → more energy released. (3) Pupils widen → more light in the eyes.
→ fight or run away
Nervous vs endocrine systems
Phototropism
Gravitropism
 Stimulus

Plant response:
1- Growth direction
2- Growth rate

Growth away from Growth towards

the stimulus the stimulus

Negative tropism Positive tropism

and positive…
(roots)
Auxi
n

Auxin
Auxin
 Etiolation

Growth in the dark

No photosynthesis

No proper development
of chloroplasts

Small and yellow leaves

Elongated stems