Unit 10: Coordination and Control Flashcards
What is system integration and what does it depend on?
Within these systems, there are interdependent subsystems that work together to perform an overall function. At every level in the functioning of an organism, there must be coordination between and within systems.
System integration depends on eective communication between components
so they can interact. The interactions may be as simple as negative or positive
feedback between two components. More commonly however, they are
complex and multifactorial, with many loops and branches.
What are the component subsystems of a cell?
Organelles
What is a tissue? What are the component subsystems of a tissue? How do these subsystems work together?
A group of cells
(component subsystem = cells)
–> cells within tissues stick to each other
—-> plant cells: a middle lamella between cell walls that is rich in gluey pectin
—-> animal cells: transmembrane proteins that form strong links between neighbouring cells
cells within a tissue communicate with each other.
What is an organ? What are the component subsystems of an organ? How do these subsystems work together?
A group of tissues that work together to carry out a specific function of life
(component subsystem = tissues)
–> tissues within an organ are interdependent
i.e. spongy mesophyll: adapted for gas exchange, palisade mesophyll: adapted for photosynthesis
What is an organ system? What are the component subsystems of an organ system? How do these subsystems work together?
A group of organs interacting with each other to perform an overall function of life.
(component subsystem = organs)
HUMAN ORGAN SYSTEMS:
circulatory, digestive, endocrine, gas exchange, integumentary, lymphatic, muscular, nervous, reproductive, skeletal, urinary
usually organs within organ systems are physically linked
What is an organism? What are the component subsystems of an organism? How do these subsystems work together?
A living individual made up of interconnected parts.
–> parts are interdependent so failure of a single group of cells in a tissue can cause an organism to die
i.e. a cheetah becomes an effective predator by integration of its body systems
Describe hormonal signalling in the endocrine system
- Type of signal: Chemical
- Transmission of signal: in the bloodstream
- Destination of signal: widespread (all parts of body that are supplied w/ blood)
- Effectors: target cells in any type of tissue
- Type of response: growth, development (puberty), reproduction (gamete production and pregnancy), metabolic rate + heat generation, solute conc. in blood, mood
- Speed of response: slower
- Duration of response: long (until hormone broken down)
Describe nervous signalling in the neurons
- Type of signal: Electrical (by passage of cations across membranes)
- Transmission of signal: in neurons
- Destination of signal: highly focused (to one specific neuron/group of effector cells)
- Effectors: muscles or glands
- Type of response: responses due to contraction of muscle, i.e. striated muscle (locomotion), smooth muscle (peristalsis + sphincter opening and closing), cardiac muscle (heart rate)
- Speed of response: very rapid
- Duration of response: short, unless nerve impulses are sent repeatedly
What is the role of the brain?
The brain is the central integrating organ of our body. It receives information,
processes it, stores some of it and sends instructions to all parts of the body to
coordinate life processes.
What is the role of the spinal cord? What makes up the spinal cord?
The spinal cord is located inside the vertebral
column (backbone). It is widest at its junction with the brain and tapers going downwards towards the pelvis. Pairs of spinal nerves branch off to the left and right between the vertebrae. In humans, there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, each serving a different region of the body.
Consists of 2 parts:
1. White matter = myelinated axons + other nerve fibres, convey signals from sensory receptors to the brain and from the brain to the organs of the body
2. Grey matter = cell bodies of motor neurons and interneurons, with many synapses between these neurons (used for processing information and for decision making)
Spinal cord is an INTEGRATING CENTRE, and only coordinates UNCONSCIOUS PROCESSES, especially reflexes
What is the difference between unconscious and conscious processes?
UNCONSCIOUS:
* Performed when awake or asleep
* Performed involuntarily
* Secretion by glands and contractions of smooth muscle (not attached to bone) are unconscious and therefore involuntary
* Coordinated by brain AND spinal cord
* i.e knee reflex, or vomiting when stomach contents are regurgitated
CONSCIOUS
* Performed when awake only
* Performed voluntarily
* Contraction of striated muscle (attached to bone) are conscious and therefore voluntary
* Coordinated only by brain
* i.e. lifting something, or initiation of swallowing when food is pushed from mouth cavity into pharynx
What is a non-binary action?
We may consciously choose to carry out the actions but the processing then used is unconscious (i.e. we consciously choose to stand up and use striated muscles for this, but then unconscious postural reflexes keep up standing use the same muscles)
Explain the input to the spinal cord and cerebral hemispheres through sensory neurons. Also explain the output from the cerebral hemispheres
to muscles through motor neurons
sensory receptors –> sensory neurons –> CNS –> motor neurons –> effector organs
External
Touch, heat, light
Internal
Stretch, chemoreceptors
different parts of the brain affect different organs via motor.
Many neurons have their cell bodies located in the same part of the brain, but their axons and terminals attach to very different effector organs
What are nerves?
Nerve = bundle of nerve fibres surrounded by a sheath
–> contains both sensory and motor neurons (each can only transmit signals one way)
Explain a pain reflex arc
= involuntary response with skeletal muscle as the effector
- RECEPTORS
sense a stimulus - SENSORY NEURONS
receive signals from receptor cells/own sensory nerve endings - INTERNEURON
(outside CNS) neurons that go between sensory and motor neuron - MOTOR NEURON
receive signals via synapses with interneurons - EFFECTORS
carry out response to stimulus when signal from a motor neuron is received
–> 1. MUSCLES - contract
–> 2. GLANDS - secrete
What is a cerebellum and what is its role
The little bit on the bottom back of the brain, near the start of the spinal cord
Coordinates the timing of muscle contraction, helps with coordination of movements, balance, posture, and things that require muscle memory
What is melatonin/circadian rhythms?
Circadian rhythms = pattern of sleep/wake cycles that organisms are adapted for
Melatonin = hormone secreted by the PINEAL gland in the brain that controls circadian rhythms
–> inhibited by light but produced in the dark
–> causes drop in temperature, drowsiness, sleep
–> integrated with a sensory neuron in the eye that senses light
Light receptor –> CNS –> pineal gland
What is ephinephrine and what is its role and effects?
Epinephrine = adrenaline
secreted by adrenal glands on top of kidney
Hormone to prepare for vigorous activity (fight or flight hormone)
–> to increase glucose and oxygen supply to skeletal muscles
EFFECTS
–> hydrolysis of glycogen –> glucose
–> increased diameter of bronchi and bronchioles
–> ventilation rate and tidal volume increases
–> sinoatrial node increases heart rate
–> increase blood flow to liver and muscles (vasodilation)
–> decrease blood flow to gut and kidneys (vasoconstriction)
What are the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
INPUT—-
HYPOTHALAMUS - small region of the brain
–> attached to the pituitary gland, connects the nervous + endocrine system
–> receives input from other parts of the brain and sensors for temp, blood glucose and solute conc.
OUTPUT—–
PITUITARY GLAND - releases hormones
–> ANTERIOR LOBE - FSH, LH
–> POSTERIOR LOBE - Oxytocin
Explain osmoregulation and puberty in terms of system integration
OSMOREGULATION:
- senses solute concentration/osmolarity
- prompts pituitary to release antidiuretic hormone to increase reabsorption of water in kidneys
PUBERTY
- hypothalamus will release GnRH
- prompts pituitary to release FSH and LH to initiate puberty
Explain the feedback control of the heart rate
SA node is connected to the medulla oblongata by the vagus and sympathetic nerves. can only transmit nervous impulses towards the SA node
Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors both in carotid artery walls, BR monitoring blood pressure and CR monitoring pH + blood oxygen concentration
BR = inc. heart rate when pressure is low
CR = inc. heart rate when pH and oxygen conc. is low
Vagus nerve = slow down heart rate
Sympathetic nerve = increase heart rate
EPINEPHRINE CAN OVERRIDE THESE
Explain feedback control of ventilation rate following sensory input from chemoreceptors
normal pH of blood = 7.35-7.45
IF ACTIVITY ↑
- respiration ↑, CO2 ↑, pH ↓
- when pH ↓, causes nerve signals to be transmitted to diaphragm and intercostals, which control breathing (ventilation rate increases)
Negative feedback loop (when pH ↓, ventilation rate ↑
measure ventilation rate using spirometer
Explain the control of peristalsis in the digestive system by the CNS and the enteric nervous system
Peristalsis: muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract
Voluntary digestive movements controlled by CNS
- initiation and swallowing
- defecation (after potty-trained)
Involuntary and controlled by ENS (nerves that connect to digestive system)
- peristalsis
- defecation (before potty trained)
What are tropisms and what types are there?
Tropism = growth response to stimuli
Positive tropism = growing towards stimulus
Negative tropism = growing away from stimulus
Explain positive phototropism
Positive phototropism = grow towards the highest light intensity in their environment
Benefit: increases the amount of light absorbed by a shoot’s leaves for use in photosynthesis
What is and what is the role/effects of a phytohormone?
Phytohormone = plant hormone that helps control growth, development and responses to stimuli in plants
- GROWTH
- can either promote or inhibit growth by affecting rates of cell division and cell enlargement (i.e. gibberelin causing stem elongation) - DEVELOPMENT
- promote or inhibit aspects of development (i.e. ethylene ripens fruits) - RESPONSE TO STIMULI
- control tropisms (i.e. auxins control phototropism)
What is auxin and what is an auxin efflux carriers?
Auxin = phytohormone that promotes stem growth and causes differential growth response of phototropism.
- enter cells by passive diffusion as long as its carboxyl group remains undissociated
Auxin efflux carriers will move to the side that requires auxin, allowing auxin to be pumped into that side of the plant
Explain the promotion of cell growth by auxin
Auxin promotes proton pump synthesis in the cell walls (apoplast)
–> lowers pH of cell wall
–> weakens crosslinks between cellulose microfibrils within cell wall
–> cell wall can then elongate
Explain the interactions between auxin and cytokinin
Auxin is produced in shoot tips, transported down into roots in phloem
Cytokinin is produced in root and transported up into shoots in xylem.
If they work together, it is called synergism. Else: antagonism