The nervous system enables
humans to react to their surroundings
and coordinate their behaviour
Cells called receptors
detect stimuli (changes in
the environment)
Receptors in the eye are sensitive to light
Receptors in the ear sensitive to sound
Receptors in the ears are
sensitive to changes in position
and enable us to keep our
balance
Receptors in the nose and on
the tongue are sensitive to
chemicals and enable us to
taste and to smell
Receptors in the skin are
sensitive to touch ,pressure
and pain
Light receptors, like most animal
cells, have a nucleus, cytoplasm
and cell membrane
Information from receptors passes
along cells (neurones) in nerves to the
brain
The brain coordinates a response
Reflex actions are automatic and rapid
because they do not involve the brain
The information passes along the sensory neurone to the
central nervous system where chemical is released at the
synapse to the relay neurone, then from the relay-motor
synapse (in a similar fashion) to the effector
The effector is either a muscle or a
gland which contracts or secretes
chemical substances, respectively
Control in the Human Body
Internal conditions which are
controlled
Water content
Water leaves the body via the lungs
when we breathe out and via the skin as
we sweat to cool us down,and excess
water is lost via the kidneys in the urine
The Ion content
Ions are lost via the skin when we
sweat and excess water is lost via
the kidneys in the urine
Temperature
To maintain the temperature at which
enzymes work best
Blood sugar levels
to provide the cells with a constant supply of energy
Many processes within the body are coordinated by
chemical substances called hormones
Hormones are secreted by glands and are usually
transported to their target organs by the
bloodstream
Hormones regulate the
functions of many organs and
cells
Several hormones are involved in the menstrual cycle of a woman
Follicle Stimulating Hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland and
causes eggs to mature in the ovaries, as well as, stimulating the
ovaries to produce hormones including oestrogen
Lutenising Hormone stimulates the release of eggs from
the ovary
Oestrogen is secreted by the ovaries and inhibits the further
production of FSH
Controlling Fertility
Oral contraceptives contain hormones (e.g. oestrogen,
progesterone) inhibit the production of FSH so that no eggs
mature
Too much oestrogen can cause significant
side effects
Progesterone
only pills lead to
fewer side
effects
Giving FSH and LH to a woman with low FSH production
stimulates eggs to mature, e.g. IVF
Once the eggs mature, they are
collected and fertilised by the father's
sperm
The fertilised eggs develop into embryos and one or
two are inserted into the mother's womb
Control in Plants
Plants are sensitive to light moisture and gravity
Their shoots grow towards light and against the
force of gravity
Their roots grow towards
moisture and in the direction of
the force of gravity
Plants produce hormones to
coordinate and control growth,
Auxins controls phototropism and
gravitropism
Auxins are produced from the tip of a plant and affect the
growth of plant cells and spread in greater mass on the
shaded side of the plant
Because the shaded side of the plant has more auxins
it grows more and consequently, the plant tip bends
towards the sunlight
Plant growth in hormones are used in agriculture and horticulture as
weed killers and as rooting hormones