MP Board Class 10 Science Chapter 6: Control and Coordina…
MP Board Class 10 Science Chapter 6: Control and Coordination Important Questions — Control and Coordination is a crucial chapter in the MP Board Class 10 Science syllabus, carrying 5–7 marks in the board exam. This chapter explains how the nervous system and endocrine system work together to regulate body functions. Students are often asked questions about neuron structure, reflex actions, brain parts, hormones, and plant movements. This guide covers all important questions expected in the 2027 board exam, including MCQs, short and long answer questions, previous year questions, and frequently asked topics from the exam perspective.
📑 Table of Contents
- 1. Neuron Structure and Function
- 2. Reflex Action and Reflex Arc
- 3. Human Brain — Structure and Functions
- 4. Coordination in Plants — Movements
- 5. Hormones — Endocrine System
- 6. Multiple Choice Questions
- 7. Very Short & Short Answer Questions
- 8. Long Answer Questions
- Previous Year Questions
- Frequently Asked Questions
🧠 1. Neuron Structure and Function
Q1. Draw a labelled diagram of a neuron and explain its functions.
Answer: A neuron is the structural and functional unit of the nervous system. It consists of three main parts:
Function: Neurons carry electrical impulses from sensory organs to the brain (sensory neurons), process them in the brain/spinal cord (interneurons), and send response impulses to muscles/glands (motor neurons). This enables the body to respond to stimuli quickly and effectively.
📌 Exam Tip: For diagram-based questions, always label the dendrites, cell body, nucleus, axon, myelin sheath, and axon terminals. Draw the neuron horizontally and keep labels neat. (4–5 marks question)
Q2. How is an electrical impulse transmitted across a chemical synapse?
Answer: The junction between two neurons is called a synapse, and it has a small gap called the synaptic cleft. Impulse transmission happens as follows:
- Electrical impulse reaches the axon terminal (pre-synaptic neuron).
- This triggers synaptic vesicles to release chemical messengers called neurotransmitters (e.g., acetylcholine).
- Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the dendrites of the post-synaptic neuron.
- This binding generates a new electrical impulse in the post-synaptic neuron, which carries it forward.
The synapse ensures one-way transmission of impulses — signals travel only from axon terminals of one neuron to dendrites of the next.
⚡ 2. Reflex Action and Reflex Arc
Q3. What is a reflex action? Explain with the help of a reflex arc diagram.
Answer: A reflex action is a sudden, involuntary, and automatic response to a stimulus that occurs without the involvement of the conscious brain. It protects the body from harm by producing rapid responses.
Example: Pulling your hand away immediately after touching a hot object, or blinking when something approaches your eye suddenly.
Reflex Arc — The Pathway:
💡 Key Fact: The brain receives information about the reflex action AFTER it has been performed. This is why you pull your hand away BEFORE you even feel the pain. The pain signal travels slower to the brain than the reflex signal through the spinal cord.
Q4. Differentiate between voluntary and involuntary actions. Give one example of each.
🧬 3. Human Brain — Structure and Functions
Q5. Draw a labelled diagram of the human brain and describe the functions of its major parts.
Answer: The human brain is the main coordinating centre of the body, protected inside the cranium (skull) and covered by three layers of membranes called meninges. It is divided into three major parts:
🔑 Key Fact: The medulla oblongata controls involuntary vital functions like heartbeat and breathing. Any damage to it can be fatal. The cerebellum helps maintain body balance — alcohol consumption affects the cerebellum, causing loss of coordination.
Q6. What is the role of the spinal cord in the human nervous system?
Answer: The spinal cord is a long, cylindrical structure running inside the vertebral column. It serves two critical roles:
- Relay Station: It carries sensory messages from the body to the brain and motor commands from the brain to the body, acting as a communication highway between the brain and peripheral nerves.
- Reflex Centre: It processes reflex actions independently of the brain, enabling much faster responses to danger. The spinal cord contains the relay neurons that connect sensory and motor neurons in the reflex arc.
🌱 4. Coordination in Plants — Movements
Q7. Distinguish between tropic and nastic movements in plants with examples.
Q8. How do plant shoots respond to light? Name the plant hormone responsible.
Answer: Plant shoots respond to light through a process called phototropism. This is controlled by the plant hormone auxin:
- Auxin is produced in the tip of the shoot and diffuses downwards.
- Light causes auxin to accumulate on the shaded side of the shoot.
- Higher auxin concentration on the shaded side stimulates faster cell elongation there.
- This causes the shoot to bend towards the light source — positive phototropism.
In roots, auxin has the opposite effect — higher auxin concentration inhibits cell elongation, causing roots to bend away from light (negative phototropism) and grow downward (positive geotropism).
📝 Formula: Remember — auxin causes shoots to grow TOWARDS light (positive phototropism) and roots to grow AWAY from light. Auxin + Light = Growth on Shaded Side → Shoot Bends.
🔬 5. Hormones — Endocrine System
Q9. List the major endocrine glands in the human body and the hormones they secrete.
Q10. What is diabetes? How is it caused and how can it be managed?
Answer: Diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels become abnormally high due to insufficient insulin production or improper insulin function.
Causes: The pancreas does not produce enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes — autoimmune) OR body cells become resistant to insulin (Type 2 diabetes — lifestyle related). Insulin is needed to help glucose enter cells for energy.
Management: (1) Regular insulin injections or oral medications, (2) Controlled diet — low sugar and carbohydrates, (3) Regular exercise, (4) Monitoring blood glucose levels regularly.
📝 6. Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark Each)
MCQs from Control and Coordination are frequently asked in MP Board exams. Here are 10 important ones to practice:
- The structural and functional unit of the nervous system is:
(a) Neuron ✓ (b) Nephron (c) Axon (d) Dendrite - Which part of the brain controls balance and posture?
(a) Cerebrum (b) Cerebellum ✓ (c) Medulla (d) Pons - The hormone that helps the body respond to emergency situations is:
(a) Insulin (b) Thyroxine (c) Adrenaline ✓ (d) Estrogen - Which plant hormone is responsible for phototropism?
(a) Gibberellin (b) Cytokinin (c) Auxin ✓ (d) Abscisic acid - The gap between two neurons is called:
(a) Node (b) Synapse ✓ (c) Axon terminal (d) Cleft - Roots grow downward in response to gravity. This is an example of:
(a) Positive phototropism (b) Negative geotropism (c) Positive geotropism ✓ (d) Hydrotropism - Which part of the brain controls heartbeat and breathing?
(a) Cerebellum (b) Cerebrum (c) Medulla oblongata ✓ (d) Hypothalamus - Deficiency of which hormone causes diabetes?
(a) Thyroxine (b) Adrenaline (c) Insulin ✓ (d) Growth hormone - When you touch a hot object and pull your hand away, the signal is processed in the:
(a) Brain (b) Spinal cord ✓ (c) Muscles (d) Nerves - Iodine is essential for the synthesis of which hormone?
(a) Insulin (b) Thyroxine ✓ (c) Adrenaline (d) Growth hormone
✏️ 7. Very Short & Short Answer Questions (2–4 Marks)
-
Name the three types of neurons found in the human body.
Sensory neurons (carry impulses from receptors to CNS), Motor neurons (carry impulses from CNS to effectors), and Interneurons/Relay neurons (connect sensory and motor neurons within CNS). (2 marks) -
What are plant hormones? Name any four.
Plant hormones (phytohormones) are organic compounds produced in plants that regulate growth and development. Four types: Auxin (cell elongation, phototropism), Gibberellin (stem growth, seed germination), Cytokinin (cell division), and Abscisic acid (stomatal closure, stress response, dormancy). (3 marks) -
Why is the pituitary gland called the “master gland” of the body?
The pituitary gland is called the master gland because it secretes hormones that regulate and control the activities of other endocrine glands (thyroid, adrenal, ovaries/testes). It also produces growth hormone that controls overall body growth and development. (2 marks) -
What is the function of the myelin sheath in a neuron?
The myelin sheath is an insulating layer around the axon made of fatty substances. It speeds up the transmission of electrical impulses by preventing signal loss and enabling saltatory conduction (impulse jumping between Nodes of Ranvier). (2 marks) -
Differentiate between sensory and motor neurons.
Sensory neurons carry impulses from sensory organs (receptors) to the central nervous system (brain/spinal cord). Motor neurons carry impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles/glands). Sensory neurons have their cell body outside the CNS; motor neurons have their cell body inside the CNS. (3 marks) -
What is geotropism? Give one example of positive and negative geotropism.
Geotropism (or gravitropism) is the growth response of plants to gravity. Positive geotropism: Roots grow downward (towards gravity). Negative geotropism: Shoots grow upward (away from gravity). This is controlled by auxin distribution — higher concentration on the lower side of roots inhibits growth, while in shoots it stimulates growth. (3 marks) -
What happens when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroxine?
Insufficient thyroxine production causes hypothyroidism. Symptoms include: low metabolic rate, weight gain, fatigue, cold intolerance, slow heart rate, and in children, stunted growth and mental development (cretinism). Goitre (swelling of the thyroid gland) can occur due to iodine deficiency needed for thyroxine synthesis. (4 marks) -
Define reflex arc. Name its five components in order.
A reflex arc is the neural pathway that a reflex action follows. The five components in order: Receptor (detects stimulus) → Sensory Neuron (carries impulse to spinal cord) → Relay Neuron (in spinal cord, processes signal) → Motor Neuron (carries response impulse) → Effector (muscle/gland produces response). (3 marks)
📖 8. Long Answer Questions (5–6 Marks)
Q1. Explain the structure of the human brain with a labelled diagram. Describe the functions of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata.
Answer: The human brain is the central information processing organ of the body, protected within the bony skull (cranium) and covered by three membranes called meninges. The brain is divided into three main regions:
1. Forebrain (Cerebrum): The largest part (about 80% of brain mass). It is divided into left and right cerebral hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum. The cerebrum controls voluntary actions — thinking, reasoning, memory, learning, speech, emotions, and sensory perception. The outer layer (cerebral cortex) has specialised areas for vision, hearing, touch, and motor control. The forebrain also contains the hypothalamus (regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst) and thalamus (sensory relay station).
2. Cerebellum: Located in the hindbrain, below the cerebrum at the back of the skull. It maintains posture, balance, and coordination of voluntary muscle movements. It receives sensory information from the inner ear (balance) and muscles to fine-tune movement. Damage to the cerebellum causes loss of coordination, shaky movements, and difficulty maintaining balance.
3. Medulla Oblongata: Located at the base of the hindbrain, connecting to the spinal cord. It controls involuntary or autonomic functions essential for life — heartbeat rate and strength, breathing rhythm, blood pressure regulation, and reflexes like coughing, sneezing, and vomiting. It is also the crossover point where nerve fibres from the left brain connect to the right side of the body and vice versa.
Q2. Describe the feedback mechanism of hormonal regulation. How does the thyroid gland regulate its hormone production?
Answer: Hormone secretion is controlled by a feedback mechanism (mostly negative feedback) to maintain homeostasis. In this system, the level of a hormone in the blood regulates its own production.
Thyroid Regulation (Example):
- The hypothalamus releases TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone), which stimulates the pituitary gland.
- The pituitary releases TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone), which travels to the thyroid gland.
- TSH stimulates the thyroid to produce thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
- When thyroxine levels in blood rise sufficiently, it sends a negative feedback signal to the hypothalamus and pituitary to reduce TRH and TSH production.
- This reduces thyroxine secretion, maintaining optimal levels.
Significance: The feedback mechanism ensures hormone levels remain within a narrow range. If the feedback loop is disrupted (e.g., iodine deficiency preventing thyroxine synthesis), the pituitary keeps producing TSH, causing the thyroid to enlarge — resulting in goitre.
Q3. Compare and contrast the nervous system and endocrine system as control and coordination systems in humans.
📋 Previous Year Questions (2018–2026)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How many marks does Chapter 6 carry in the MP Board Class 10 Science exam?
Control and Coordination typically carries 5-7 marks in the MP Board Class 10 Science board exam. Questions include 1 MCQ (1 mark), one short answer (2-3 marks), and one diagram-based long answer (3-5 marks).
Q2. What is the difference between a neuron and a nerve?
A neuron is a single nerve cell — the structural and functional unit of the nervous system. A nerve is a bundle of many axons (nerve fibres) enclosed in a connective tissue sheath, like a cable containing multiple wires.
Q3. Why is the response in a reflex action faster than a voluntary action?
Reflex actions are processed in the spinal cord directly through the reflex arc, bypassing the brain. Since the impulse travels a much shorter distance (only to the spinal cord and back), the response is faster. Voluntary actions need to travel to the brain, be processed in the cerebrum, and then send a response — a much longer path.
Q4. What are the four major plant hormones and their functions?
Auxin: Cell elongation, phototropism, geotropism. Gibberellin: Stem elongation, seed germination, fruit development. Cytokinin: Cell division, leaf expansion, delay ageing. Abscisic acid: Stomatal closure, seed dormancy, stress tolerance.
Q5. What is the function of the hypothalamus in the brain?
The hypothalamus is a small region at the base of the forebrain that acts as the body’s thermostat. It regulates body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep, and emotional behaviour. It also controls the pituitary gland (master gland) by releasing hormones that stimulate or inhibit pituitary hormone secretion.
Q6. Which hormone is responsible for the “fight or flight” response? Name the gland that produces it.
Adrenaline (also called epinephrine) is responsible for the fight-or-flight response. It is produced by the adrenal glands located above each kidney. It increases heart rate, breathing rate, blood flow to muscles, and blood sugar levels to prepare the body for emergency action.
Q7. What causes goitre and how can it be prevented?
Goitre is an enlargement of the thyroid gland caused by iodine deficiency in the diet. Since iodine is essential for thyroxine production, its deficiency leads to low thyroxine levels, triggering continuous TSH release from the pituitary, which makes the thyroid gland grow abnormally. It can be prevented by consuming iodised salt, seafood, and iodine-rich foods.
Q8. Do plants have a nervous system? How do they respond to stimuli?
No, plants do not have a nervous system like animals. They respond to stimuli through hormones (chemical coordination). Plant hormones like auxin, gibberellin, and abscisic acid regulate growth movements (tropisms) and non-growth movements (nastic movements) in response to light, gravity, touch, and water.
Q9. What is the difference between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system?
The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord — it is the control centre that processes information. The peripheral nervous system (PNS) consists of all the nerves that connect the CNS to the rest of the body — it carries sensory information to the CNS and motor commands from the CNS to effectors.
Q10. How does the movement of the touch-me-not plant (Mimosa pudica) occur?
The Mimosa pudica exhibits thigmonastic movement. When touched, cells at the base of the leaflets lose water rapidly (due to changes in cell membrane permeability), causing them to become flaccid. This makes the leaves fold inward and droop downward. The movement is temporary — after a few minutes, water re-enters the cells and the leaves reopen.
Q11. What are the similarities between the nervous and endocrine systems?
Both are control and coordination systems that help the body function as an integrated unit. Both receive and respond to stimuli (internal or external). Both use chemical messengers — neurotransmitters (nervous) and hormones (endocrine). Both systems can work together, e.g., the hypothalamus-neural signals trigger pituitary hormone release.
Q12. What is the role of iodine in the human body?
Iodine is an essential mineral required by the thyroid gland to synthesise thyroxine hormone. Without iodine, the thyroid cannot produce sufficient thyroxine, which regulates metabolism. Iodine deficiency leads to hypothyroidism, weight gain, fatigue, and goitre (enlarged thyroid). The recommended daily intake is 150 micrograms for adults.