3.1 Response and Coordination 1. Living organisms respond to change in the internal environment and the external environment.

2. A change in the external environment or in the internal environment in the body which can be detected by the bodys system is called stimulus. 3. The main purpose for living organisms to respond to certain stimuli is to ensure the continuity of life or survival of the organisms. 4. It is necessary for animals to respond to stimuli : a) b) c) d) To adapt to the environment. For protection from danger. For safety (to move to a safer place). To regulate the internal environment by homeostasis.

5. Plants need to respond to stimuli to : a) Receive more sunlight for photosynthesis. b) Obtain better support. c) Obtain enough water.

Types of Stimuli and Responses

Types of stimuli

External stimuli Internal stimuli

1. External stimuli a) External stimuli are changes that occur in the external environment and can be detected by the bodys system. For example, light, sound, smell, taste, temperature, pressure and touch. b) The changes in the external environment are detected by the receptors in the body in order for the body to produce a response towards the changes. c) Response is an action of the body, either consciously or unconsciously, towards a certain stimulus. d) The response of organisms to external stimuli is to enable them to adapt to the environment. e) A specific stimulus can only produce a specific response. Table 3.1 and table 3.2 shos the various types of external stimuli and the responses of human and other organisms to the stimuli.

Stimuli Light Sound Taste,smell Temperature, pain, touch, pressure

Response in human Detected by the eyes, allowing us to see and to change the size of pupil in the eyes. Detected by the ears to enable us to hear. Dissolved chemical substances can stimulate the nose and the tongue to enable us to smell and taste. Detected by the skin to enable us to feel the changes in temperature, pressure, texture and pain level as well as to respond towards them. Table 3.1

Stimuli Response in other organisms Tropism is a response in the form of growth movement in certain parts of a plant such as the shoot tip or the root tip towards or away from the stimulus. Phototropism is the growth response of the Light shoot tip and root tip towards light. Geotropism is the growth response of the shoot Gravity tip and root tip towards gravity. Hydrotropism is the growth response of the Water shoot tip and root tip towards water. Thigmotropism is the growth response of the Touch plant tendrils to cling and coil around an object for support.

Stimulus

Response in other organisms

Nastic response is the movement of certain parts of a plant in response to a certain stimulus. The direction of the response is independent of the location of the stimuli. Seismonasty is the movement of plant parts in Touch response to shock or touch. Photonasty is the movement of certain plant Light parts in response to light. Thermonasty is the response of certain plant Temperature parts to a rise in temperature. Nyctinasty(sleeping movement) is the Changes in day and night movement of plant or its parts in response to the onset of darkess, e.g. the shuttingof the flower petals at night. Taxis is the response of whole organisms to the directional external stimulus. The organisms will either move towards or away from the stimulus. Phototaxis is the response towards or away Light from high light intensity. Chemotaxis is the response of a cell or Chemical substance organisms to chemical stimuli. Thermotaxis is the response of organisms Temperature towards heat or a rise in temperature. Table 3.2

2.Internal stimuli a) Internal stimuli are changes in the internal environment of the body. For example, the sugar level in the body, body temperature and osmotic pressure of blood. b) Stimuli in the body are detected by receptors in the body. c) The responses of organisms to the internal stimuli allow the process of homeostasis to occur and also maintain the equilibrium of the internal environment. d) Any stimulus in the body will stimulated the regulatory process of the internal environment by homeostasis through negative feedback to maintain the internal environment at an optimal condition for the cells to function. e) Table 3.3 shows the types of internal stimuli and the respective responses in humans.

Stimuli Changes in blood sugar level Changes in body temperature Changes in blood osmotic pressure

Response (Homeostasis) Regulation of sugar level in the blood by pancreas and liver. Regulation of body temperature by the skin. Regulation of blood osmotic pressure by the kidneys (osmoregulation) Table 3.3