Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Body Coordination
Body coordination is a life process that involves harmonious fuctioning of interrelated organs
and parts in the body to produce a coordinated response
Two body systems that control and regulate coordination are:
The nervous system
The endocrine system
A stimulus is a detectable change in the internal or external environment.It evokes a
response.
Response is an action or movement as a result of a stimulus.
The nervous system handles fast and short responses which involve the transmission of
electrical impulses
nervous system
A neurone is a nerve cell which is the basic functional unit of the nervous system
The central nernous system consists of the brain and spinal cord
The peripheral nervous system consists of cranial nerves and spinal nerves.
The brain is an organ that is the centre of control and coordination in the nervous system
The spinal cord controls reflex action
5/11/2010 A
The peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves which connect the central nervous
system with other parts of the body.
Cranial nerves composed of 12 pairs of nerves which orogonate from the brain and are
connected to sense organs in the head and neck, and also to effectors such as the muscles
or glands in the body cavity.
Spinal nerves are composed of 31 pairs of nerves which originate from spinal cord and are
connected to sense organs and effectors in the whole body including hands and legs.
Neurones
A neurone is a nerve cell.It is the basic functional unit of the nervous system
The cell body contains many projections
Dendrons - projections from the cytoplasm that point outward from the cell body
Dendrites - smaller projections that branch from dendrons or axons
Axons - another type of projection
Dendrans and dendrites receive messages from other cells and trnasmit the message to the
cell body
Axons conduct messages away from the cell body
Some axons in certain neurones are covered by myelin sheath.The sheath breaks up at
intervals along the dendrons or axons.This enables impulses to jump from one node to
another, shortening the time impulses travel along the surface of the axons or dendrons.
Besides this, the meylin sheath is important because:
It acts as an electrical insulator
it is a source of food for axons and dendrons
it also protects axons and dendrons from physical injury.
Types of neurones
Nervous Coordination
Receptors and effectors
Any changes which occur inside and outside of the human body are known as stimuli
Receptors are sensory cells that detect and receive stimuli and turn them into electrical
impulses
Effectors are muscles or glands which produce responses due to stimuli.They respond to
stimuli by:
contraction
gland secretion
Figure above shows how the human nervous system works.
5/11/2010 A
Nerve Impulses
are messages conveyed along the nerve in the form of weak electrical pulse
An impulse moves only in one direction as shown in figure.
Reflex action
Reflex arc
A reflex arc is a sequence of pathways taken by the impulses from receptors to effectors in
a reflex action
The pathway of impulses in a reflex arc are as follow:
5/11/2010 A
Pathway of impulses
Proprioceptors
Proprioceptors are sense organs which are connected to sensory neurones.Humans are able
to determine the position of their legs, arms, head and other parts, along with the
orientation of the body as a whole with this type of receptors
Proprioceptors are found in all skeletal muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints.They provide
information to the brain regarding adjustment in posture and movement.Therefore,
adjusments may be made to maintain body posture or to carry out a particular body
movement.
Kinaesthesis
Kinaesthesis is the ability to sense the position, location, orientation and movement of the
body and its part without looking at ourselves.
The human brain is the most complex organs in the human body.It is also the most complex
brain among all mammals.
The brain is the centre that contols and coordinates our responses as shown in above
5/11/2010 A
Human Brain
Cerebrum
The cerebrum is the largest part of the human brain.It makes up about 80% of the mass of
the human brain.
The cerebrum can be divided into two hemispheres.
Right hemisphere
Left hemisphere
Nerve impulses from the left side of the body will be received by the right hemisphere
whereas nerve impulses from the right side of the body will be received by the left
hemisphere
Functions of the cerebrum are:
5/11/2010 A
It controls voluntary and highest intellectual functions such as thinking, learning and
problem solving.
It regulates emotion and memory through the limbic system.
It controls human behavior.
Receives and interpets impulses from sensory organs
Cerebellum
Medulla oblongata
Medulla oblongata is the lower most portion of the brain and is continuos with the spinal
cord.It is the smallest component of the brain
Medulla oblongata relays nerve signals between the brain and spinal cord.
Medulla oblongata controlsn automatic functions
Hormones
are chemicals secreted by endocrine glands.Hormone produced are secreted directly into the
bloodstream and carried by blood to tissues or organs without the need of any ducts.They
are usually secreted is small amounts
The hormones have a specific effect only on the tissue or an organ designed to receive its
message .This tissue or organ is called target tissueor target organ.This is because only this
specifictissue or organ will respond to them.
Important roles of hormones are:
causing physical and physiological changes.
Controlling the rate of body process
Influencing growth
Pituitary gland
Thyroid gland
Insulin and glucagon work together to maintain a steady level of glucose in the blood.This is
important to produce and maintain stores of energy.
Adrenal gland
Ovary
Testis
The two types of coordination work together at certain times.The human digestive system is
a good example.When food is served,the mouth will start to salivate and this response is
coordinated by the nervous system.Gastrin a type of hormone is secreted when the half-
digested food goes into the stomach.Gastrin causes the stomach wall to produce
hydrochloric acid and other emzymes to carry out further digestion.
5/11/2010 A
Definition of drugs
Drugs are chemical or biological substances which affect the function of the nerveous
system,especially the brain,causing changes in behaviour and personality.They change the
way the body works.
Types of drugs
Drug abuse
Alcohol is a depressant.This means it slows down the function of the central nervous
system.
When alcohol is consumed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream rapidly and travels around
the body to the brain.