CHAPTER 2 : BODY COORDINATION

1. Body coordination is responsible for the smooth and efficient functioning of all our
body systems and organs.
2. Body coordination includes the nervous system and endocrine system.
3. The human nervous system consists of the central nervous system and the
peripheral nervous system.
4. Neurones are cells specialized to generate and transmit nerve impulses. There are
three types of neurons : the sensory neurone, the interneurone and motor neurone.
5. The nervous system involves components such as stimulus, receptor, neurons,
synapse, effector and respond. The path taken by an impulse in a reflex arc are :
Receptor Sensory neurone
Motor neurone
6.

Synapse Interneurone synapse

Effector

Proprioceptors are important in maintaining body balance and coordination.

7. The human brain consist of the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the medulla
oblongata.
8. The cerebrum control sensory functions and conscious activities. The cerebellum
controls body balance and posture. The medulla oblongata controls involuntary
actions.
9.

The somatic nervous system controls voluntary actions, such as a speaking and
dancing.

10. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions, such as as

breathing, peristalsis and beating of the heart.
11. Chemical coordination involves the endocrine system which functions to
coordinate the bodys activities through the actions of hormones.
12. The endocrine system consists of ductless glands such as the pituitary gland,
thyroid gland, pancreas adrenal glands, testes and ovaries.
13. Hormonal balance is important for good physical and mental health. A deficiency or
excess of hormones can cause health problems.
14. The physical and mental health of man depends on the efficient coordination
between his nervous system and his endocrine system.
15. Drugs are chemical substances that may cause addiction and negative effects on
our physical and mental activities.
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16. Amphetamines, barbiturates, tranquillizers,nicotine,cocaine and marijuana are some

examples of drugs.
17. Drug abuse is the taking of drugs in high or excessive dosage for non-medical
purposes and without doctors advice.
18. Drug abuse causes bad effects to the addicts, their families and society from the
physical, social, mental, psychology, physiology and economic aspects.
19. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to significant health risk.
20. Alcoholics face the risk of cardiovascular and liver diseases, e.g, liver cirrhosis.
21. The human mind is capable of thinking and reasoning.
22. A sound and healthy mind and good coordination is essential for us to lead a
healthy, happy and harmonious life.

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following activity does not involve proprioceptors?
A
B
C
D

Listening to music
Wearing clothes
Clapping hands
Climbing up stairs

2. Which of the following shows the function of cerebellum?

A
B
C
D

To control the rate of contraction and relaxation of muscles in the body.

To control the activity of thoughts and emotions.
To control voluntary action.
To control the memory.

3.
Receptor

Spinal cord

Effector

Which of the following action is shown by the flow of impulse in the diagram ?
A
B
C
D

Walking
Heart beat
Sneezing
Reading a book

4. Which of the following are examples of reflex actions?

I
II
III

The eyes blinking when an object is brought close to the face.

Sneezing when dust enters the nostrils.
Reading a book

A
B
C
D

I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III

5.
Receptor

Medulla
oblongata

Effector

Which of the following action is shown by the flow of impulse in the diagram ?
A
B
C
D

Walking on a rope.
Heart beat
Sneezing
Chewing a food

6. Diagram shows a neurone.

What is the part labeled X?

A
B
C
D

Axon
Dendron
Dendrite
Myelin sheath

7. Diagram shows a part of the human nervous system.

What is the part labeled S?

A
B
C
D

Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Spinal cord
Medulla oblongata
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8. Diagram shows one of the human endocrine gland.

What is the effect on a person if the gland is removed?

9.

A
B
C
D

The blood pressure increases

The blood sugar level increases
The metabolic rate becomes low
The secondary sex characteristics are not developed
Diagram shows some endocrine glands.
Which gland is removed if a person shows the symptoms below?

10.

Low metabolic rate

Sensitivity to cold
Simple goitre

Why is body coordination important for living things?

I it allows the body to avoid a situation that can endanger our body
II it allows the body to adapt ourselves to the changing environment
III it coordinates all body activities to produce responses that are appropriate
and correct.
A.
B.
C.
D.

I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III

11. What are the negative effects of drug addiction on a person?

I Immune system deteriorates
II Loss of interest in family and work
III Malnutrition
A I and II only
B I and III only
C II and III only
D I, II and III
SECTION A : Practical Items
Instruction: Answer all questions in this section.

1.

The figure below shows a student sitting cross-legged on a chair. A friend hits him lightly
below the knee cap of the dangling leg with a metre rule.

(a) What is the aim of this experiment?

[1 mark]
(b) What can be observed from the experiment?
[1 mark]
(c) Draw arrows and label the neurones involved in the figure below to show how this action
happens.

[3 marks]
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Section B
1.

The figure below shows the structure of the human brain.

(a) Name the parts labelled R and T.

[1 mark]
(b) State the function of the part labelled S.
[1 mark]
(c) Which part controls the heartbeat?
[2 marks]
(d) Which part of a man's brain is injured if he loses his memory after an accident?
[1 mark]
(e) Why are S and R of the brain folded?
[1 mark]

Section C
1.

The figure below shows two patterns of block arrangement.

Study the following statement.

A man who has seen the arrangement of wooden blocks as shown in the figure above
can rearrange it blind-folded.
(a) Suggest a hypothesis to investigate the above statement.
[1 mark]
Using six identical wooden blocks of similar size, describe an experiment to test your
hypothesis in (a) based on the following criteria;
Aim of the experiment
Identification of apparatus
Procedure
Tabulation of data
Conclusion

[9 marks]

2.

(a) Describe how the side-effects of excessive alcohol consumption affect the driving skill of
a human.
[4 marks]
(b) The figure below shows several effects on human health of the habit of excesive
consumption of alcohol.

Study the above effects. Describe how excessive consumption of alcohol may cause the
above effects on human health.
Your answer should be based on the following:
Identify the information
Identify the common characteristics
Relate the common characteristics of the effect on human health
Give an example of another effect on human health and a non-health
example on humans.
State the effect of excessive consumption of alcohol

[6 marks]

ANSWER
OBJECTIVE QUESTION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

A
A
C
A
B
C
D
B
B
D
D

SECTION A
1

(a) To study the reflex action through knee-jerk reaction.

(b) The dangling leg kicks out.
(c )

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SECTION B
1

(a)
(b)
(c )
(d)
(e)

R : Cerebrum
T : Medula Oblongata
Control body balance and posture/coordinates all body movements
T
R
To increase the surface area and the capacity of the brain to store and
interpret information.

SECTION C
1 (a) Kinaesthesis allows a man to estimate the position of objects without looking at the
objects.
Aim: To study the role of kinaesthesis in estimating the position of objects
Apparatus: six identical wooden blocks, black scarf
Procedure
a. Let a friend look at the arrangement of block shown as in the figure in the
question.
b. Blind-fold the friend using a black scarf
c. The wooden blocks are scattered.
d. Ask the friend to arrange the wooden blocks according to the figure in the
question.
e. The observation is recorded
f. Repeat with 3 other friends

Tabulation of data:
Name of friend
1.
2.
3.
4.

Is the arrangement correct? (Yes/No)

Conclusion:
Kinaesthesis helps the blind-folded student to arrange the wooden blocks in the
correct pattern.

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(a)
- Alcohol causes a poor judgment of distance
- Alcohol causes a double vision
- Alcohol slows down the nervous system as it affects body coordination and
movement
- Alcohol causes a person to lose self-control
(b)
- Alcohol abuse may cause blockages in blood capillaries, resulting in less
oxygen being transported to the brain, causing the brain size to shrink
- Alcohol abuse causes heart muscle to deteriorate, thus leading to heart
disease
- Kidney tends to reabsorb less water, leading to dehydration
- Excessive consumption of alcohol causes great damage to the human body.
- Example of excessive alcohol consumption to human health is cirrhosis /
gastritis / ulcers
- Non-example of excessive alcohol consumption to human health is social
problem / accident
- Excessive consumption of alcohol may lead to addiction which causes health
problem to the drinker, social problems to others and traffic accidents.

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