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Coordination and the human brainEdexcel A-Level Biology A: Flashcards

What these 13 flashcards ask

  • Name the two systems that bring about coordination in animals.
  • What is a hormone?
  • Why do only target cells respond to a hormone?
  • Give two features of nervous control compared with hormonal control.
  • Give two features of hormonal control compared with nervous control.
  • Give an example of a hormonal response.
  • What are the functions of the cerebral hemispheres?
  • Where is the hypothalamus and what does it do?
  • Why is the hypothalamus a link between the nervous and endocrine systems?
  • What does the cerebellum do?
  • What does the medulla oblongata control?
  • What would damage to the cerebellum cause?
  • Why is damage to the medulla oblongata so dangerous?

Exam questions on Coordination and the human brain

  1. A 62-year-old man is admitted to hospital after a stroke that damaged part of his cerebellum. He can understand speech, think clearly and remember recent events, but his walking is unsteady and his arm movements are jerky and poorly aimed.
    Explain why damage to the cerebellum has caused the man's movements to be jerky and poorly aimed.2 marks
  2. On a hot day a runner's core body temperature begins to rise. Her skin becomes flushed and she starts to sweat. These responses are coordinated by a region at the base of her brain.
    Explain why the hypothalamus is described as a link between the nervous system and the endocrine system.2 marks
  3. A student reading quietly is startled by a loud bang. Within a second her heart rate and breathing rate increase. For several minutes afterwards she still feels alert and her heart continues to pound.
    Explain why the immediate response to the bang is attributed to nervous coordination but the continuing alertness is attributed to hormonal coordination.3 marks
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Written by the Exaim team, led by Shaun Daswani (Head of Upper Secondary, Improve ME Institute; MSc Financial Mathematics, Imperial College London; BSc, UCL) and Jason Daswani (operational lead, Improve ME Institute; LSE).