Coordination and response

Nervous control in humans:

Cells and organs do not all work independently their activities are coordinated, which means that they work together, carrying out their various functions at certain times and at certain rates, according to the needs of the body. Coordination in mammals is achieved through two systems, each with its own particular role. The nervous system deals with rapid but short-lasting responses, whereas the endocrine system brings about slower, longer lasting responses. In mammals and other vertebrates, the nervous system consists of a brain and spinal cord, which together from the central nervous system (CNS), connected the various parts of the body by the peripheral nervous system. This is made up of nerves, collections of many long thin nerve cells called neurones. Information flows along the nervous system as follows. A receptor detects a change in conditions (a stimulus). A message is carried from the receptor to the CNS by a sensory neurone. After processing, a message is sent from the CNS to an organ (an effector) that carries out a response. A motor neurone carries this message. A reflex action is the simplest type of response. A reflex action is a rapid automatic response to a stimulus, for example jerking your hand away from a sharp or hot object. The nerve pathway involved in the reflex action is called a reflex arc, a shown below:

1. Receptor a cell or an organ that receives a stimulus and converts it into an electrical impulse. 2. Sensory neurone carries impulse from the receptor to the CNS. 3. Connector or relay neurone carries impulse slowly across the spinal cord. 4. Motor neurone carries impulse from the CNS to the effector. 5. Effector the structure that carries out an action (the response) to deal with the initial stimulus. Can be a muscle for example, the biceps or a gland. Senses are a persons ability to be aware of different aspects of the environment. Sight, for example, allows a person to be aware of light stimuli, detected by photoreceptors. Receptors may need help in receiving the stimulus, and receptor cells are often grouped together with other tissues to form a sense organ. The other tissues allow the receptor cells to work efficiently. The working of the eye illustrates the involvement of other tissues in the operation of a sense organ.

Part Cornea

Description Front part of the tough outer coat, the sclera. It is convex and transparent.

Function refracts light - bends it as it enters the eye controls how much light enters the pupil

Iris

Pigmented - decides the colour of your eyes - so light cannot pass through. Its muscles contract and relax to alter the size of its central hole or pupil.

Lens

Transparent, bi-convex, flexible disc behind the iris attached by the suspensory ligaments to the ciliary muscles.

focuses light onto the retina

Retina

The lining of the back of eye containing two types of photoreceptor cells - rods sensitive to dim light and black and white and cones - sensitive to colour. A small area called the fovea in the middle of the retina has many more cones than rods.

contains the light receptors

Optic Nerve

Bundle of sensory neurones at back of eye.

carries impulses from the eye to the brain

Hormones:
The endocrine system is a series of organs called glands, which secrete chemicals called hormones. A hormone is a chemical substance produced by a gland, carried by the blood, which alters the activity of one or more specific target organs and is then destroyed by the liver.

One hormone that has been widely studied is adrenaline. This substance seems to bridge the gap between nervous and endocrine control. It is definitely a chemical messenger, and is released directly into the bloodstream, and is released directly into the bloodstream, yet its actions are often very rapid indeed and may only last for a very short time. The widespread and instant effects of adrenaline are described below: Skin becomes pale as blood is diverted away. Deeper, more rapid breathing and airways become wider. Heart beats more rapidly. Blood is diverted away from the digestive system to muscles using sphincters. Adrenal glands release the hormone adrenaline. Glycogen in muscles is converted to glucose, and released into the blood.

One of the functions of adrenaline is to increase the concentration of glucose in the blood for respiration. However, constant high concentrations of glucose in the blood are harmful. Adrenaline secretion is increased when to the body is given a shock; it is known as the fight or flight hormone.

Differences between the nervous and endocrine system:

The responses controlled by the nervous system happen quickly, but there are some responses that go on over a long period of time. Growth and development, for example, continue for years. Animals have a second coordination system, the endocrine system, which carries out this sort of control.