Control and Coordination — CBSE Class 10 Science Important Questions
14 CBSE Class 10 Science practice questions on Control and Coordination, each with a full model answer, covering 7 topics from the chapter in the question formats used in the exam.
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Reviewed by Classmate AI Team · 29 September 2026
Last updated 25 October 2026
- 14
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- Key concepts
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- With answers
Living organisms respond to changes (stimuli) using control and coordination. In animals this is done by the nervous system (fast, electrical impulses through neurons; includes reflex actions via the spinal cord) and the endocrine system (slower, chemical hormones). Plants coordinate without a nervous system, using movements (tropic and nastic) and plant hormones such as auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin and abscisic acid.
About Control and Coordination
This chapter explains how animals and plants sense and respond to their environment in a controlled way. In animals you will study the neuron, nerve impulse and synapse, reflex action and the reflex arc, the human brain and spinal cord, and the endocrine glands and their hormones (with feedback regulation). In plants you will study tropic movements (phototropism, geotropism, etc.) and plant hormones. Frequently asked exam items include the labelled neuron, the reflex arc pathway, functions of brain parts, and hormone-deficiency questions such as iodine/thyroxine and insulin/diabetes.
Key concepts & formulas
A neuron is the functional unit of the nervous system. Information is picked up by dendrites and travels as an electrical impulse along the axon to the nerve endings. At the synapse (a tiny gap between two neurons) the impulse is passed on by the release of a chemical (neurotransmitter), which sets off a fresh impulse in the next neuron. A synapse also ensures impulses travel in one direction only.
A reflex action is a sudden, automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus (e.g. withdrawing the hand from a hot object). The pathway is the reflex arc: receptor to sensory neuron to spinal cord to motor neuron to effector (muscle). It is routed through the spinal cord (not the conscious brain) so the response is very fast and protects the body from harm.
The brain has three regions: the forebrain (cerebrum) — thinking, memory, voluntary actions and sensations; the midbrain; and the hindbrain — the cerebellum (posture, balance, precision of movements), pons, and medulla (involuntary actions like heartbeat, breathing, vomiting). The brain and spinal cord form the central nervous system, protected by the skull, vertebral column and fluid.
Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the blood, which act on distant target organs. Examples: thyroxine (thyroid, needs iodine; deficiency causes goitre), insulin (pancreas; deficiency causes diabetes), adrenaline (adrenal; 'fight-or-flight'), growth hormone (pituitary) and testosterone/oestrogen (sex hormones). Their timing and amount are precisely controlled by feedback mechanisms.
Plants respond without nerves. Tropic movements are directional growth responses — phototropism (towards light), geotropism (roots towards gravity), hydrotropism and chemotropism. Nastic movements (e.g. folding of the touch-me-not) are non-directional. Plant hormones: auxin (cell elongation, phototropism), gibberellins (growth), cytokinins (cell division), abscisic acid (inhibits growth, wilting/closing of stomata).
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Important questions with answers
Try each on paper first, then reveal the model answer to check your method.
Multiple-choice questions (1 mark)
The tiny gap across which a nerve impulse is transmitted from one neuron to the next is called the:
- (a)
Axon
- (b)
Dendrite
- (c)
Synapse
- (d)
Cell body
Show model answer
Answer: (c) Synapse. At the synapse the electrical impulse causes the release of a chemical (neurotransmitter) that crosses the gap and starts a new impulse in the next neuron. This also makes sure the impulse can travel in only one direction.
The peripheral nervous system is made up of:
- (a)
The brain and the spinal cord
- (b)
Cranial nerves and spinal nerves
- (c)
The brain and cranial nerves
- (d)
The spinal cord and spinal nerves
Show model answer
Answer: (b) Cranial nerves and spinal nerves. Cranial nerves arise from the brain and spinal nerves from the spinal cord. They connect the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) with all other parts of the body.
A person is walking on a narrow ridge but is able to keep balance and posture. The part of the brain responsible for this is the:
- (a)
Cerebrum
- (b)
Cerebellum
- (c)
Medulla
- (d)
Pons
Show model answer
Answer: (b) Cerebellum. The cerebellum (part of the hindbrain) is responsible for maintaining posture and balance and for the precision of voluntary movements. (The cerebrum handles thinking and voluntary decisions; the medulla controls involuntary actions like heartbeat and breathing.)
The intake of which element in the diet is essential to prevent the disease goitre?
- (a)
Iron
- (b)
Calcium
- (c)
Iodine
- (d)
Sodium
Show model answer
Answer: (c) Iodine. Iodine is required by the thyroid gland to make the hormone thyroxine, which regulates metabolism. A deficiency of iodine reduces thyroxine production and causes the thyroid to enlarge — the swelling of the neck called goitre. This is why iodised salt is recommended.
Assertion–Reason questions (1 mark)
Assertion (A): Reflex actions such as quickly withdrawing the hand from a hot object do not involve thinking by the brain.
Reason (R): Most reflex actions are controlled and completed by the spinal cord through a reflex arc.
- (a)
Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
- (b)
Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
- (c)
A is true but R is false
- (d)
A is false but R is true
Show model answer
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. A reflex response is generated by the reflex arc through the spinal cord, so the motor command is issued before the information reaches the conscious, thinking part of the brain. Bypassing the brain makes the response fast and involuntary, which is exactly why it does not involve thinking.
Very short answer questions (2 marks)
Define the terms (a) phototropism and (b) geotropism, giving the direction of response of a root in each case.
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(a) Phototropism: the directional growth movement of a plant part in response to light. A shoot shows positive phototropism (grows towards light), while a root shows negative phototropism (grows away from light).
(b) Geotropism (gravitropism): the directional growth movement of a plant part in response to gravity. A root shows positive geotropism (grows downwards, towards gravity), while a shoot grows upwards (negative geotropism).
Give one difference between the way information is transmitted by the nervous system and by hormones. Why is chemical (hormonal) communication a useful addition to nervous control?
Show model answer
Difference: The nervous system transmits information as fast electrical impulses along neurons, giving a rapid but short-lasting response; hormones travel slowly through the blood as chemical messengers and produce slower but longer-lasting effects on target organs.
Usefulness: Nerve impulses cannot reach every cell, and a cell cannot generate impulses continuously; hormonal signalling allows steady, widespread and sustained control of processes (like growth and metabolism) that need to be regulated over long periods.
How is the movement of the leaves of the sensitive plant (touch-me-not) different from the movement of a shoot towards light?
Show model answer
Sensitive plant: an immediate response to touch. It is not a growth movement and does not depend on the direction of the stimulus - its cells change shape by changing the amount of water in them, so the leaves fold up and droop.
Shoot towards light: a slow, directional growth movement (phototropism). Auxin makes the cells on the shaded side grow longer, so the shoot bends towards the light.
Short answer questions (3 marks)
Distinguish between voluntary, involuntary and reflex actions, giving one example of each. Name the part of the nervous system that controls each.
Show model answer
Voluntary actions are done by our will, with conscious thought - e.g. writing, walking. They are controlled by the forebrain (cerebrum), with the cerebellum giving them precision.
Involuntary actions happen without our will - e.g. heartbeat, breathing, salivation. They are controlled by the midbrain and hindbrain (the medulla).
Reflex actions are sudden, automatic responses to a stimulus - e.g. pulling the hand away from a hot object. They are controlled by the spinal cord through a reflex arc.
Draw a labelled diagram of a neuron and state the function of (a) dendrite, (b) axon, and (c) the nerve endings.
Show model answer
Labelled diagram of a neuron:
Functions:
(a) Dendrites — receive information (stimulus) and carry the impulse towards the cell body.
(b) Axon — conducts the impulse away from the cell body to the nerve endings.
(c) Nerve endings (axon terminals) — pass the impulse across the synapse to the next neuron or to the muscle/gland by releasing chemicals.
Name the plant hormone associated with each of the following and briefly explain its role: (a) helping cells to grow longer, causing a shoot to bend towards light; (b) promoting cell division; (c) inhibiting growth and causing leaves to wilt / stomata to close.
Show model answer
(a) Auxin: synthesised at the shoot tip, it promotes cell elongation. When light comes from one side, auxin accumulates on the shaded side; those cells elongate more, so the shoot bends towards the light (phototropism).
(b) Cytokinin: promotes cell division. It is present in greater amounts in rapidly dividing regions such as fruits and seeds, and also helps delay the ageing of leaves.
(c) Abscisic acid (ABA): an inhibitory hormone that slows down growth. It causes wilting of leaves and triggers the closing of stomata during water shortage, helping the plant conserve water (a stress hormone).
Long answer questions (5 marks)
Describe the human brain by naming its three major parts and stating the main function of each. Also state how the brain is protected in the body.
Show model answer
The brain is the main coordinating centre of the body and has three major regions:
1. Forebrain (Cerebrum):
- The largest and most complex part.
- Controls thinking, reasoning, memory, intelligence and will (voluntary actions).
- Receives sensory impulses (sight, smell, hearing, touch, taste) and interprets them.
- Contains centres associated with hunger and other sensations.
2. Midbrain:
- Connects the forebrain and hindbrain.
- Controls certain reflex movements of the head, neck and eye muscles (e.g. changes in pupil size and reflexes of the eye).
3. Hindbrain — has three parts:
- Cerebellum: maintains posture and balance and provides precision to voluntary actions (e.g. walking, writing, picking up a pencil).
- Pons: helps regulate breathing.
- Medulla oblongata: controls involuntary actions such as heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, salivation and vomiting.
Protection of the brain: The brain is enclosed in a bony box, the skull (cranium). Inside the skull it is surrounded by three membranes called meninges and is cushioned by a shock-absorbing fluid, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which protects it from mechanical injury and jerks.
(a) Name the endocrine glands that secrete insulin, adrenaline and growth hormone, and state one function of each hormone. (b) A person has been diagnosed with a high blood-sugar level (diabetes). Which hormone is deficient, and how is this condition managed? (c) Explain briefly how the secretion of a hormone is regulated by a feedback mechanism, using blood sugar as an example.
Show model answer
(a)
- Insulin — secreted by the pancreas; lowers blood glucose by helping cells absorb and store sugar.
- Adrenaline — secreted by the adrenal glands; prepares the body for emergency ('fight-or-flight') by raising the heartbeat, breathing rate and blood supply to the muscles.
- Growth hormone — secreted by the pituitary gland; controls the growth and development of the body (bones and tissues).
(b) In diabetes the hormone insulin is deficient (or not used properly), so blood sugar stays high. It is managed by injecting insulin and by controlling the diet (and lifestyle).
(c) Feedback regulation: The amount of a hormone secreted is controlled by feedback based on the level of the substance it regulates. For example, when the blood sugar level rises (e.g. after a meal), the pancreas is stimulated to secrete more insulin, which brings the sugar level down. When the blood sugar level falls back to normal, insulin secretion is automatically reduced. This self-regulating feedback keeps the internal conditions of the body stable (homeostasis).
Case-based questions (4 marks)
Read the passage and answer the questions.
A man met with an accident and became unconscious due to a head injury, but the doctors said his spinal cord was undamaged. When a nurse accidentally pricked a pin into the sole of his foot, his leg was immediately withdrawn even though he was unconscious and could not feel anything consciously.
(a) Name the type of action shown by the withdrawal of his foot. (1)
(b) Arrange the components involved in the correct order of the pathway of this response. (1)
(c) Explain why the foot was withdrawn even though the man was unconscious. (1)
(d) Why is such a response biologically advantageous for the body? (1)
Show model answer
(a) The withdrawal of the foot is a reflex action (an involuntary, automatic response).
(b) Correct order of the reflex arc:
Receptor (skin of foot) to Sensory neuron to Spinal cord (relay neuron) to Motor neuron to Effector (leg muscle) to Response (foot withdrawn).
(c) The response is controlled by the spinal cord, not by the conscious brain. Since the man's spinal cord was undamaged, the reflex arc could still work: the sensory impulse reached the spinal cord, which directly sent a motor command to withdraw the foot — even though the injured brain meant he was unconscious and felt nothing.
(d) Such a reflex is very fast because it does not wait for the brain to think. This allows the body to respond instantly to harmful stimuli (like a pinprick, heat or sharp objects) and thus protects it from injury.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the important questions from Control and Coordination for Class 10?
The reflex arc (the pathway a nerve impulse follows during an involuntary reflex action, usually asked as a labelled diagram or sequence-ordering question) is the single most-tested idea. Plant hormones (auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin and their effects — growth movements like phototropism and geotropism) and the human endocrine system (which gland secretes which hormone, and what each hormone does) make up the rest of the important questions in this chapter.What are the important questions in Control and Coordination Class 10?
The neuron and synapse, reflex actions and the reflex arc, the parts of the human brain, plant hormones and tropisms, and the endocrine glands with their hormones. This page has 14 such questions with answers, ending with a case study on an unconscious accident patient whose leg still jerks away from a pin.What is control and coordination in Class 10?
Control and coordination is how an organism senses changes around it and responds in an organised way. In animals it is done by the nervous system and by hormones from endocrine glands; in plants, by hormones such as auxin and gibberellin and by movements like tropisms. Both systems appear in CBSE Class 10 questions.How is a nerve impulse passed from one neuron to the next?
The impulse travels electrically from the dendrite along the axon to the nerve endings, where a chemical is released into the synapse, the tiny gap between neurons. The chemical starts a new impulse in the next neuron, so signals move in one direction only.Which part of the brain controls balance and posture?
The cerebellum, in the hindbrain, controls posture, balance and precise voluntary movements such as walking on a narrow ridge. The medulla, also in the hindbrain, controls involuntary actions like heartbeat and breathing, while the cerebrum handles thinking and memory.Why is iodine needed in the diet?
The thyroid gland needs iodine to make thyroxine, which regulates carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. Without enough iodine the thyroid swells, a condition called goitre, which is why iodised salt is recommended.Where can I find Control and Coordination Class 10 notes?
The Key concepts & formulas section of this page gives Control and Coordination notes in five cards: the neuron and synapse, the reflex arc, the human brain, hormones and endocrine glands, and coordination in plants. Revise them before the questions.Where can I find Control and Coordination Class 10 question answers?
This page answers phototropism and geotropism, how nervous and hormonal signalling differ, the touch-me-not plant versus a shoot bending to light, voluntary, involuntary and reflex actions, a labelled neuron, plant hormones and the glands for insulin, adrenaline and growth hormone.Where can I practise Control and Coordination MCQs?
Four MCQs open the page, on the gap between two neurons, what the peripheral nervous system is made of, the brain part that keeps balance on a narrow ridge and the element that prevents goitre, plus an assertion–reason item on reflex actions. Timed quizzes come from Create Test after a free sign-up.
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