CBSE Class 10 Science Revision Notes Chapter 6 Control and Coordination 2026–27

Control and coordination help living organisms detect changes in their surroundings and respond through movement, nerves, muscles and hormones. CBSE Class 10 Science Revision Notes Chapter 6 cover the nervous system, reflex action, plant movements, plant hormones and hormones in animals.

Control and Coordination explains how living organisms respond to changes in their environment. Animals use the nervous system for quick responses and hormones for chemical coordination. Plants do not have nerves or muscles, so they respond through growth movements, water movement and plant hormones.

Use these CBSE Class 10 Science Revision Notes Chapter 6 for the 2026–27 academic year to revise neurons, reflex action, the human brain, plant responses and endocrine glands. Focus on definitions, diagrams, flow charts and function tables while revising this chapter.

Key Takeaways

• Neuron: A neuron carries information as electrical impulses from one part of the body to another.
• Reflex action: A reflex arc helps the body respond quickly through the spinal cord.
• Plant coordination: Plants respond to light, gravity, water, touch and chemicals through movement and hormones.
• Endocrine system: Hormones are chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands into the blood.

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CBSE Class 10 Science Revision Notes Chapter 6 on Control and Coordination: Chapter Overview

Control means regulating body activities. Coordination means different organs work together to produce the correct response.

Living organisms use control and coordination to respond correctly. A cat runs after seeing a mouse, roots grow downwards and shoots bend towards light.

Animals use nervous and muscular tissues for fast responses. Plants use chemical coordination and growth changes because they do not have a nervous system.

Important Topics in CBSE Notes Class 10 Science Chapter 6

Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Notes include animal coordination, plant coordination and hormone-based control. These topics are closely linked with diagrams and process-based questions.

The neuron, reflex arc, human brain and endocrine glands need labelled diagram practice. Plant movements need clear differences between growth-based and non-growth movements.

Animals Nervous System in Control and Coordination Class 10 Notes

In animals, control and coordination are carried out by nervous tissue and muscular tissue. The nervous system detects information, processes it and sends instructions for action.

Specialised tips of nerve cells detect information from the surroundings. These receptors are usually present in sense organs.

The nervous system uses electrical impulses for fast communication. These impulses travel through nerve cells called neurons.

Neuron in Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Notes

A neuron is the structural and functional unit of the nervous system. It is specialised to conduct information as electrical impulses.

Direction of nerve impulse:

Dendrite → Cell body → Axon → Nerve ending → Synapse

Information is acquired at the dendritic tip of a nerve cell. The impulse travels through the cell body and axon.

At the end of the axon, the impulse causes the release of chemicals. These chemicals cross the synapse and start a similar impulse in the next neuron.

Synapse in CBSE Notes Class 10 Science Chapter 6

A synapse is the gap between two neurons. It helps transfer information from one neuron to another.

At the synapse, an electrical impulse changes into a chemical signal. The chemical crosses the gap and starts a new electrical impulse in the next neuron.

This arrangement helps impulses move in one direction. It also connects neurons with muscle cells and gland cells.

Reflex Action and Reflex Arc in CBSE Class 10 Science Revision Notes Chapter 6

A reflex action is a sudden, automatic response to a stimulus. It happens without conscious thinking.

Touching a hot object is a common reflex action. The hand moves away quickly to protect the body from injury.

Reflex Arc in Control and Coordination Class 10 Notes

A reflex arc is the pathway followed by nerve impulses during a reflex action. Reflex arcs are formed in the spinal cord.

Reflex arc flow:

Stimulus → Receptor → Sensory neuron → Spinal cord → Motor neuron → Effector → Response

The brain also receives the information, but the quick response is controlled by the spinal cord. This saves time in urgent situations.

Reflex Action and Walking

Reflex action and walking are different types of responses. Reflex action is automatic, while walking is a voluntary action.

Reflex actions are faster because they do not wait for detailed thinking. Walking needs coordination between brain, nerves and muscles.

Human Brain in Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Notes

The brain is the main coordinating centre of the body. It receives information from different parts of the body and integrates it.

The brain and spinal cord form the Central Nervous System. The brain controls thinking, voluntary actions and many involuntary actions.

Parts of the Human Brain and Their Functions

The human brain has three major regions. These are the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain.

The forebrain receives sensory impulses from receptors. Different areas in the forebrain are linked with hearing, smell, sight and other senses.

The cerebellum helps in activities such as walking in a straight line, riding a bicycle and picking up a pencil. It maintains posture and balance.

Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System

The nervous system is divided into the Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System.

Cranial nerves arise from the brain. Spinal nerves arise from the spinal cord.

The Peripheral Nervous System carries messages between the Central Nervous System and muscles, glands and sense organs.

Voluntary and Involuntary Actions in Control and Coordination

Voluntary actions are controlled by conscious thinking. Writing, talking, clapping and moving a chair are voluntary actions.

Involuntary actions are not under conscious control. Breathing, heartbeat, salivation and vomiting are involuntary actions.

The medulla controls many involuntary actions. These include blood pressure, salivation and vomiting.

Protection of Brain and Spinal Cord in Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Notes

The brain and spinal cord are delicate organs. They need protection because they control important body functions.

The skull forms a bony box around the brain. A fluid-filled covering provides shock absorption.

The spinal cord passes through the vertebral column. The backbone protects it from injury.

How Nervous Tissue Causes Action

Nervous tissue sends messages, but muscles perform the final movement. A muscle fibre moves when a nerve impulse reaches it.

Muscle cells contain special proteins. These proteins change their shape and arrangement when they receive an electrical impulse.

This is how nervous signals lead to movement. Muscle cells contract because their internal proteins rearrange.

Coordination in Plants in Science Notes for Chapter 6 Control and Coordination Class 10

Plants do not have a nervous system or muscles. They still respond to stimuli such as touch, light, gravity, water and chemicals.

Plant responses are of two types. Some responses depend on growth, while others do not involve growth.

Plants use electrical-chemical means to pass information from cell to cell. They do not have specialised nervous tissue for this work.

Immediate Response to Stimulus in Plants

The sensitive plant folds its leaves when touched. This movement is quick and does not involve growth.

The point of touch and the point of movement are different. This means information moves from one part of the plant to another.

Plant cells change shape by changing the amount of water in them. Swelling or shrinking of cells causes movement.

This movement is different from muscle movement in animals. Plants do not use muscle proteins for such movement.

Movement Due to Growth in Plants

Some plant movements happen because of growth. These movements are slow and directional.

Tendrils of pea plants are sensitive to touch. When they touch a support, one side grows faster than the other side.

This unequal growth causes the tendril to bend around the support. The plant then climbs upward.

Tropic Movements in Control and Coordination Class 10 Notes

Tropic movements are directional growth movements in plants. They may occur towards or away from a stimulus.

Shoots usually show positive phototropism. They bend towards light.

Roots usually show positive geotropism. They grow in the direction of gravity.

Phototropism in Plants

Phototropism is the growth response of a plant part to light. Shoots generally bend towards light.

Auxin helps in this movement. When light comes from one side, auxin moves towards the shaded side of the shoot.

Cells on the shaded side grow longer. This causes the shoot to bend towards light.

Phototropism flow:

Light from one side → Auxin moves to shaded side → Shaded cells grow longer → Shoot bends towards light

Tropic and Non-Growth Movement in Plants

The movement of touch-me-not leaves and the movement of a shoot towards light are different.

This difference is important in Class 10 Control And Coordination Revision Notes. It explains how plants can show both quick and slow responses.

Plant Hormones in CBSE Class 10 Science Revision Notes Chapter 6

Plant hormones are chemical substances that coordinate growth, development and responses to the environment. They are produced in one part and act in another part.

Auxin is synthesised at the shoot tip. It helps cells grow longer.

Gibberellins help in stem growth. Cytokinins are found in greater concentration in areas of active cell division, such as fruits and seeds.

Abscisic acid inhibits growth. It also causes effects such as wilting of leaves.

Hormones in Animals and the Endocrine System

Hormones in animals are chemical messengers. They are secreted by endocrine glands directly into the blood.

Hormonal control is slower than nervous control. It can reach many cells through blood and produce longer-lasting effects.

Adrenaline and Emergency Response

Adrenaline is secreted by the adrenal glands. It prepares the body to face fear, anger, danger or stress.

Adrenaline is carried through blood to target organs. It helps the body respond quickly during emergency situations.

Important Hormones in Animals

Animal hormones control growth, metabolism, puberty, blood sugar and emergency responses.

Iodine is needed for the thyroid gland to make thyroxin. Iodine deficiency can cause goitre, which may show as a swollen neck.

Insulin is produced by the pancreas. If insulin is not secreted in proper amounts, blood sugar level rises.

Feedback Mechanism in CBSE Notes Class 10 Science Chapter 6

Feedback mechanism regulates the timing and amount of hormone released. It helps maintain balance in the body.

Blood sugar control is an example of feedback regulation. When blood sugar rises, pancreatic cells detect it and secrete more insulin.

Insulin feedback flow:

Blood sugar rises → Pancreas secretes more insulin → Blood sugar falls → Insulin secretion reduces

This prevents excess hormone secretion. It also helps the body maintain normal internal conditions.

Nervous Coordination and Hormonal Coordination in Animals

Nervous coordination and hormonal coordination work differently. Both help the body respond to changes.

Nervous coordination is useful for quick actions. Hormonal coordination is useful for steady and widespread control.

Important Points of Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Control and Coordination

These Class 10 Science Chapter 6 Notes help revise the main facts quickly.

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