Co-ordination
A stimulus is received by one organ; the response is made by another. The linking of the two is co-ordination.
Co-ordination
The linking together of different organs while responding to a stimulus is called co-ordination.
Who does the co-ordinating?
Nerves, muscles and hormones matter for co-ordination. Nerves carry the message fast, hormones carry it slowly but throughout the body, and muscles actually make the response happen.
| Step | In the trumpet example | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulus | A loud sound | The change in the environment |
| Receptor | The ear | Picks up the stimulus |
| Co-ordination | Nerves | Carry the message |
| Effector | Arm muscles | Act |
| Response | Covering the ears | The end result |
Irritability and co-ordination are not the same
Irritability is the ability to respond. Co-ordination is the way several organs work together while that response is made. The first is a capacity; the second is an arrangement.