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NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 18 Notes Neural Control and Coordination is a must-know topic for board exams as well as competitive exams such as NEET. This chapter gives a clear idea of the human nervous system and how it plays an important role in coordinating body functions. Using NCERT Notes for Class 11 Biology, students can improve their knowledge of neural control and coordination so that they are well prepared for their exams. The important topics are the definition of the neural system, a summary of the human neural system, and the neuron as the structural and functional unit. In addition, it deals with the central nervous system (CNS), reflex action and reflex arc, and reception and processing of sense.
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The chapter also contains key examples that are often exam questions, making it a good source for rapid revision. Students can download CBSE Notes in PDF for offline use, which helps them have effective study sessions. These notes cover all the key points, saving students time while preparing for their exams effectively. Having revision notes and NCERT Solutions for this chapter handy is beneficial to save you time.
Also, students can refer to:
NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Biology Chapter 18 Neural Control and Coordination.
NCERT Exemplar for Class 11 Biology Chapter 18 Neural Control and Coordination.
The detailed notes of the chapter are given below:
The neural system gives an organized network for the rapid coordination of body functions.
Coordination: Coordination among organs to support each other's functions.
Made up of neurons that perceive, receive, and conduct stimuli.
Complexity grows:
Lower vertebrates: Uncomplicated neuron network.
Insects: Brain with ganglia and neural tissues.
Vertebrates: Advanced neural system.
The human neural system is divided into two parts:
System | Components |
The brain and spinal cord processes and controls information. | |
Nerves are connected to the CNS. Includes afferent (to CNS) and efferent (from CNS) nerve fibers. |
Somatic Nervous System: Regulates voluntary muscles (e.g., skeletal muscles).
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Regulates involuntary muscles (e.g., smooth muscles).
Sympathetic Nervous System: "Fight or flight" response.
Parasympathetic Nervous System: "Rest and digest" response.
Diagram: Structure of the Human Neural System
A neuron consists of three parts:
Part | Description |
Cell Body | Contains cytoplasm, organelles, and Nissl’s granules (absent in axons). |
Dendrites | Short fibers branching from the cell body; contain Nissl’s granules. |
Axon | Long fiber ending in synaptic knobs; may be myelinated or unmyelinated. |
Multipolar: One axon, multiple dendrites (e.g., cerebral cortex).
Bipolar: One axon, one dendrite (e.g., retina).
Unipolar: Only axon present (found in embryos).
The types of axons are:
Myelinated Axons:
Covered with a myelin sheath formed by Schwann cells.
Found in the spinal cord and cranial nerves.
Gaps between myelin sheaths are called Nodes of Ranvier.
Unmyelinated Axons:
No myelin sheath; found in autonomic and somatic systems.
Diagram: Structure of a Neuron
Generation and Conduction of Nerve Impulse
The stage and process of nerve impulse can be discussed In the table given below:
Stage | Process |
Resting State | - Membrane permeable to K+ but impermeable to Na+ |
- Sodium-potassium pump maintains ionic gradient (++ outside, −−inside). | |
- The potential difference across the membrane is called the resting potential. | |
Stimulus Response | - Membrane becomes permeable to Na+, reversing charges (−−outside, ++ inside). |
- This creates an action potential or nerve impulse. | |
- Impulse travels through repeated depolarization/repolarization cycles along the neuron. |
Diagram: Generation of Nerve Impulse
The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord.
Protected by the skull and covered by three layers called cranial meninges:
Dura mater
Arachnoid
Pia mater
The divisions of the brain are as follows
Forebrain
Includes cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus.
Functions:
Cerebrum: Memory, sensory processing.
Thalamus: Sensory relay center.
Hypothalamus: Regulates temperature, hunger, and thirst.
Connects forebrain to hindbrain.
Contains corpora quadrigemina for visual/auditory reflexes.
Includes pons, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata.
Functions:
Pons: Relays signals between brain regions.
Cerebellum: Maintains posture/balance.
Medulla oblongata: Controls heart rate, breathing.
Diagram: Divisions of the Brain
Also read:
Reflex action is an involuntary response to a stimulus.
Components of a reflex arc:
Receptor
Sensory neuron
CNS (spinal cord)
Motor neuron
Effector
Diagram: Reflex Arc
Subject Wise NCERT Exemplar Solutions
The important topics of the chapter are:
1. Neural System
2. Human Neural System
3. Neuron as Structural and Fundamental Unit of Neural System
4. Central Neural System
Below are a few solved questions:
Q1. What is the part of the internal ear responsible for hearing?
Answer:
The cochlea is an inner part of the ear which facilitates hearing.
Q2. What is the name of the wax gland present in the ear canal?
Answer:
The wax gland present in the ear canal is called the Sebaceous gland/ ceruminous gland.
Q3. What are the 3 layers of the human eyeball?
Answer:
The human eyeball has three layers- sclera, choroid, and retina. These three layers enclose lens, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor. Our paired eyes are located in sockets of the skull called orbits. The adult human eyeball is nearly a spherical structure. The eyeball is an elongated sphere about 2.5 cm in diameter.
Q4. Who controls the function of our visceral organs?
Answer:
The autonomic nervous system (option b) plays a crucial role in regulating involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate. It is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions, which work together to maintain homeostasis in the body.
Q5. What maintains the Resting membrane potential?
Answer:
The sodium-potassium pump and leak channels are examples of ion pumps and channels that preserve a cell's resting membrane potential. For every ATP molecule, this pump transports two potassium ions into the cell and three sodium ions out of it. The potassium ion concentration gradient produced by this action adds to the resting membrane potential. The electrical potential across a cell's plasma membrane when it is not activated is known as the resting membrane potential. Because more cations are released than are absorbed, the inside of the cell stays negatively charged in relation to the extracellular fluid.
Subject-Wise NCERT Solutions
The student should start by clearly understanding the structure and function of nerves, action potential, impulse transmission, and synaptic conduction. They should focus on important concepts like reflex action, the structure of the brain and spinal cord and the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. They should practice flow charts for processes such as pulse conduction and reflex arcs to answer accurately. While solving questions, they should use neat and labelled diagrams wherever possible.
The chapter wise notes are given below:
Neural control refers to the nervous system’s regulation of body activities through electrical impulses, while coordination ensures organs work together harmoniously. For example, withdrawing a hand from fire involves rapid neural signaling
The components are the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). CNS includes the brain and spinal cord, while PNS consists of nerves connecting CNS to organs.
CNS processes information (brain/spinal cord), while PNS transmits signals between CNS and body parts via afferent (to CNS) and efferent (from CNS) nerves.
Neurons transmit electrical signals (action potentials) via depolarization. At synapses, neurotransmitters carry signals to the next neuron.
The brain processes sensory input, controls voluntary movements and homeostasis, and regulates emotions, memory, and endocrine functions.
A synapse is the junction between neurons where neurotransmitters transfer impulses, ensuring unidirectional signal transmission.
A reflex action is a rapid, involuntary response (e.g., knee-jerk) mediated by the spinal cord without brain involvement, using a reflex arc (sensory → spinal cord → motor neuron).
Types include sensory neurons (carry impulses to CNS), motor neurons (transmit signals from CNS to organs), and interneurons (relay signals within CNS).
The brain consists of forebrain (cerebrum, thalamus, hypothalamus), midbrain (vision/hearing reflexes), and hindbrain (cerebellum for balance, medulla for vital functions).
Major disorders include Alzheimer’s (memory loss), Parkinson’s (motor impairment), and epilepsy (seizures).
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