Body Coordination

Body coordination is a life process that involves harmonious functioning 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

The Human Nervous System

The human nervous system can be divided into:
The Central Nervous System (CNS) which consists of the brain and spinal cord.
The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) which consists of cranial nerves and spinal nerves.
1. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord
2. The peripheral nervous system consists of cranial nerves and spinal nerves.

3. The brain is an organ that is the centre of control and coordination in the nervous system
4. The spinal cord controls reflex action
5. The peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves which connect the central nervous
system with other parts of the body.
6. A neurone is a nerve cell which is the basic functional unit of the nervous system

Types of neurones
There are three types of neurones
sensory neurones
motor neurones
interneurons (relay neurones)

Figure 1: Structure of Neuron

 Structure Functions
Cell body Controls the neurone
Dendrite Control nerve impulses from other neurone to the cell body
Dendron Conduct nerve impulses to the cell body
Axon Conduct nerve impulses away from the cell body
Myelin sheath Speeds up the transmission of nerve impulses

Structure Functions
Sensory Neurone
Carry nerve impulses from sensory organ
such as skin, tongue to the central nervous
system(brain)

Relay Neurone
Transmit impulses from the sensory
neurones to motor neurones

Motor Neurone
Transmit nerve impulses from central
nervous system to effector

Proprioceptors
1. The receptors that detect movement, pressure, or stretching within the body.
2. It consists of muscle spindle and receptors in tendons, ligaments and joints.
3. It coordinate muscular activity and maintains balance and posture.
 Central
Sensory Relay Motor
Receptor nervous Effector
neurone neurone neurone
system

A receptor is a specialised cell that detects stimuli through the sensory organs.
An effector is the cells or organ such as muscles and glands that produces a response when
stimulated by nerve impulses.

Nervous Coordination - Reflex Action

A fast and automatic response to a stimulus is called a reflex action.
Never go through the brain, No decision made, Automatic response

Sensory Relay Motor

Receptor Effector
neurone neurone neurone

Example:
Knee-jerk reflex action
Remove hand from hot kettle
Human Brain

1. Human brain is protected by skull.

2. The brain is made up of grey matter and white matter. Grey matter consists of cells bodies and
white matter consists of nerve fibres.
3. The human brain can be divided into three main parts:
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Medulla oblongata

Cerebrum Left side of the body will be received by the right hemisphere
Right side of the body will be received by the left hemisphere
Functions of the cerebrum are:
1. It controls voluntary and highest intellectual functions such as thinking,
learning and problem solving.
2. It regulates emotion and memory through the limbic system.
3. It controls human behaviour.
4. Receives and interprets impulses from sensory organs.
Cerebellum 1. Controlling and maintaining posture and balance of the body
2. Controlling and coordinating muscular activities
Medulla 1. Relays nerve signals between the brain and spinal cord.
Oblongata 2. Controls automatic functions such as sneezing, swallowing, vomiting,
coughing.

Voluntary and involuntary actions

Voluntary actions are result by the brain such as writing, thinking, speaking and dancing.

Involuntary actions are automatic actions such as heart beating, functioning of the organs,
excretion, breathing. Cannot be stop or start as you wish.

Effect of injuries to specific parts of the human brain

Cerebrum Paralysis, loss of conscious behaviour
Cerebellum Loss of coordination, or sense of balance
Medulla Oblongata Basic automatic activities failed. May Die
Hormonal Coordination in the Body