Part 2

(J) Co-ordination and response

How organisms respond to changes?

All living organisms are sensitive to stimuli and they respond to changes occur
internally within them and externally in the environment.

There are two systems in human to co-ordinate with these stimuli and responds.

!) The nervous system.

2) The endocrine system.

Both the systems function as bellow;

Stimulus  receptor Co-ordination  effector  response

Stimulus:-Change in the external or internal envt.

Receptor:- a cell/group of cells that detects the change

Co-ordination:- communication between receptor and the effector

Effector:- a muscle or a gland that works for response

Response:- activity with response to the external or internal stimulus

Homeostasis
Managing the internal environment conditions as a constant / within a set limit.

Examples for internal conditions;

 Core body temperature.

 Concentration of the metabolic waste. CO2, Urea.
 Blood pH
  Blood glucose level
 Water potential of the blood
 Blood pressure

How homeostasis is maintained (co-ordinated)?

Stimulus  receptor  Co-ordination  effector response

 Continuous feedback of the change (stimulus) is taken through sensory

receptors.
 Co-ordinated through nervous or endocrine system
 Response ( change it back to normal level) is made through an effector
(muscle or gland)

Example:

(01) Managing human body temperature, co- ordinated by nervous system

through the skin.

TB page 113 Diagram 8.9A human skin

half a page

Skin and the thermoregulation through nervous system

Tightly control the core temperature close to 37C

In a hot climate

Stimuli – outside heat

 Sensory receptors in the skin sense the heat, and send the impulse through
sensory neuron to the brain-hypothalamus, and through blood circulation
thermoregulatory center detect the change.
 Hypothalamus send an impulse through the motor neuron to the skin, for;
1. Hair erector muscle relax and hair fall down on the skin:-heat releases from
the body through blowing air
2. Contract the sweat gland so sweat is secreted:- heat is absorbed from the
skin to evaporate sweat
3. Vasodilation; arterioles in the skin dilate supplying more blood to the skin:-
heat is released from the blood through skin by cooling the body.

In cold climate

 Hypothalamus thermoregulatory center detects the change through

sensory neurons and blood circulation.
 Motor neuron carry the message to the skin for response
1. Hair erector muscle contracts, hair erects and trap a layer of air, it acts
as an insulator and prevents heat loss.
2. Vasoconstriction :- arterioles contract and reduce blood reaching the
skin and prevent heat loss.
3. Shivering: It is a reflex action to release more heat through muscle
contractions and high rate of metabolic activities.

** Having a fat layer under the skin, to work as an insulator.

Importance of Homeostasis

 Maintain the optimal conditions required for cellular activities. Eg.

Temperature ,pH
 Support to function properly and efficiently.
 Critical conditions are controlled and save the life.