NCERT Class 10 Science Science: Chapter 6 — Control and Coordination
This chapter, 'Control and Coordination' from NCERT Class 10 Science, explores how living organisms respond to environmental changes. It explains that controlled movements are essential for survival and are facilitated by specialized tissues. In animals, the nervous and muscular systems work together for control and coordination. The chapter introduces the concept of receptors in sense organs that detect stimuli, converting them into electrical impulses. These impulses travel through neurons via chemical signals at synapses to other neurons, muscles, or glands. It highlights the role of neurons in transmitting information throughout the body and uses an activity to illustrate the connection between smell and taste, emphasizing the importance of coordinated sensory input for a complete experience. This understanding is crucial for CBSE students to grasp biological mechanisms.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 10 |
| Subject | Science |
| Book | Science |
| Chapter | Chapter 6 — Control and Coordination |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 3 minutes |
| Word count | 555 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the necessity of control and coordination in living organisms.
- Identify the roles of the nervous system and muscular tissues in animals.
- Explain the structure and function of a neuron.
- Describe how information is transmitted through the nervous system.
- Recognize the function of receptors in detecting environmental changes.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Receptors | Specialised tips of nerve cells that detect information from the environment. |
| Nerve cell (Neuron) | A specialised cell that transmits information through electrical and chemical signals. |
| Electrical impulse | A signal generated by a chemical reaction in a nerve cell, travelling along the neuron. |
| Axon | The part of a neuron that transmits impulses away from the cell body. |
| Dendrite | The part of a neuron that receives impulses from other neurons. |
| Synapse | The gap between two neurons where chemical signals are transmitted. |
| Stimulus | A change in the environment that evokes a response. |
| Response | The action taken by an organism to a stimulus. |
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Practice questions
- What is the main function of the nervous system in animals? Answer: The nervous system provides control and coordination by transmitting information via electrical impulses from one part of the body to another.
- Where are receptors usually located in our body? Answer: Receptors are usually located in our sense organs, such as the inner ear, nose, tongue, etc.
- How is an electrical impulse generated in a nerve cell? Answer: Information acquired at the dendritic tip of a nerve cell sets off a chemical reaction that creates an electrical impulse.
- What is a synapse? Answer: A synapse is the gap between two neurons (or between a neuron and another cell) where chemical signals are transmitted to pass the impulse along.
Frequently asked questions
What is control and coordination in living organisms?
Control and coordination refers to the systems that allow living organisms to detect environmental changes and respond to them with appropriate, controlled movements.
Which tissues are responsible for control and coordination in animals?
In animals, nervous and muscular tissues are responsible for control and coordination.
What is the basic unit of the nervous system?
The basic unit of the nervous system is the nerve cell, also known as a neuron.
How do nerve impulses travel?
Nerve impulses travel as electrical impulses along the neuron and are transmitted to other cells via chemical signals at synapses.
What are receptors and what do they do?
Receptors are specialized cells, usually at the tips of nerve cells, that detect stimuli from the environment.
Why is the synapse important?
The synapse is important because it allows the transmission of the nerve impulse from one neuron to another or to an effector cell (like a muscle or gland).
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 10 Science — Science — Chapter 6 — Control and Coordination. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.