Chapter 4 – Response and Physical coordination in Animal- Nervous System

Trying to understand this chapter in a simple way before your exam? The topic Response and Physical Coordination in Animals (Nervous System) is very important for your WBBSE Class 10 exam. Here, you will get important questions and answers in easy and clear English. These questions are based on important topics and exam patterns. This will help you learn better, revise quickly, and score good marks in your exam.

Content Structure

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)
2. Very short-type questions and answers
- 2A. Fill in the blanks
- 2B. True or false
- 2C. Match the column
- 2D. Single word questions and answers
3. Short-type questions and answers
4. Long-type questions and answers

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)

1. The name of the structural and functional units of nervous system–
(a) Nephron
(b) Neurone
(c) Neuroglia
(d) Nerve

Ans: (b) Neurone

2. Determine the number of cranial nerves in human body–
(a) 10 pairs
(b) 21 pairs
(c) 31 pairs
(d) 12 pairs

Ans: (d) 12 pairs

3. Schwann cell is related to which of the following?
(a) Dendrite
(b) Axon
(c) Cell body
(d) Synapse

Ans: (b) Axon

4. Synapse is formed between two–
(a) Veins
(b) Venules
(c) Arteries
(d) Neurones

Ans: (d) Neurones

5. The brain and spinal cord combinedly form–
(a) Peripheral nervous system
(b) Autonomic nervous system
(c) Central nervous system
(d) None of the above

Ans: (c) Central nervous system

6. The part which maintains balance of human body is –
(a) Cerebrum
(b) Cerebellum
(c) Pons
(d) Medulla oblongata

Ans: (b) Cerebellum

7. In human eye, the blind spot contains –
(a) Rods
(b) Cones
(c) Both rods and cones
(d) Neither rods nor cones

Ans: (d) Neither rods nor cones

8. Cycling is a type of–
(a) Acquired reflex
(b) Inborn reflex
(c) Brain activity
(d) Innate reflex

Ans: (a) Acquired reflex

9. Cerebrum is the part of–
(a) Forebrain
(b) Midbrain
(c) Spinal cord
(d) Hindbrain

Ans: (a) Forebrain

10. The length of human spinal cord is about–
(a) 4.5 m
(b) 45 cm
(c) 45 m
(d) 4.5 cm

Ans: (b) 45 cm

11. Which one is controlled by cerebrum?
(a) Memory
(b) Heartbeat
(c) Body balance
(d) Eyelid movement

Ans: (a) Memory

12. The portion of CNS that holds CSF is–
(a) Neurone
(b) Ventricles of brain
(c) Central canal of spinal cord
(d) Both b and c

Ans: (d) Both b and c

13. Which of the following is absent in CNS?
(a) Axon
(b) Cyton
(c) Neurilemma
(d) Axial filament

Ans: (c) Neurilemma

14. Which of the following is not a part of hindbrain?
(a) Pons
(b) Cerebellum
(c) Medulla oblongata
(d) Tectum

Ans: (d) Tectum

15. The cavities inside human brain are called–
(a) Auricles
(b) Central canals
(c) Cranium
(d) Ventricles

Ans: (d) Ventricles

16. The mass of the spinal cord of a healthy adult man is about–
(a) 15 g
(b) 95 g
(c) 35 g
(d) 75 g

Ans: (b) 95 g

17. Which of the following is a part of midbrain?
(a) Telencephalon
(b) Myelencephalon
(c) Metencephalon
(d) Mesencephalon

Ans: (d) Mesencephalon

18. The quantity of CSF in a healthy adult human is–
(a) 200 ml
(b) 250 ml
(c) 100 ml
(d) 150 ml

Ans: (d) 150 ml

19. The largest portion of the forebrain is–
(a) Cerebellum
(b) Cerebrum
(c) Hypothalamus
(d) Thalamus

Ans: (b) Cerebrum

20. The fluid present in the central canal is–
(a) Serum
(b) Lymph
(c) Neurohumour
(d) Cerebrospinal fluid

Ans: (d) Cerebrospinal fluid

2. Very short-type questions and answers

2A. Fill in the blanks

1. There are ___________ pairs of cranial nerves in human body. (12)
2. The complete path of reflex action is called ________________ (reflex arc).
3. Brain of vertebrates remains protected inside the _________________ (cranium).
4. The folds of cerebrum are called ____________ (gyri).
5. The two hemispheres of cerebellum are connected by _______________ (vermis).
6. _____________ is the structural unit of nervous system. (Neuron)
7. The outermost thin covering of the axon is called _____________ (neurilemma).
8. Ear has two functions: one is hearing, another is ______________ (balance).
9. Rod cells are responsible for ___________ light vision. (dim)
10. Organ of Corti is present in the ____________ ear. (inner)

2B. True or false

1. Supporting neurones are found only in peripheral nervous system. (False)
2. Midbrain is composed of thalamus and hypothalamus. (False)
3. Grey matter is present on the outer side of brain and spinal cord. (False)
4. The outer coating of brain and spinal cord is meninges. (True)
5. Coughing is an acquired reflex. (False)
6. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary activities. (True)
7. Axon carries nerve impulses toward the cell body. (False)
8. Medulla oblongata controls heartbeat and breathing. (True)
9. Neurilemma is absent in central nervous system neurones. (True)
10. Myelin sheath increases the speed of nerve impulses. (True)
11. Cerebellum is the largest part of the brain. (False)

2C. Match the columns

1. Match the following items in List I with correct items in List II.

A	B
1. Parts of central nervous system	A. Cranial and spinal nerves
2. Parts of peripheral nervous system	B. Central peripheral and autonomic nervous system
3. Parts of vertebrate nervous system	C. Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
4. Parts of autonomic nervous system	D. Brain and spinal cord
5. Layers of meninges	E. Nerve and synapse
6. Parts of reflex arc	F. Receptor, effector
	G. Duramater, piamater, arachnoid mater

Ans:

A	B
1. Parts of central nervous system	D. Brain and spinal cord
2. Parts of peripheral nervous system	A. Cranial and spinal nerves
3. Parts of vertebrate nervous system	B. Central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system
4. Parts of autonomic nervous system	C. Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
5. Layers of meninges	G. Duramater, piamater, arachnoid mater
6. Parts of reflex arc	F. Receptor, effector

2D. Single word questions and answers

1. What is ganglion?
Ans: A ganglion is a group of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system.

2. What do you understand by nervous system?
Ans: The nervous system is the body’s control system that regulates and coordinates all activities.

3. Characteristics of afferent and efferent nerve?
Ans:

Afferent nerves: Carry messages from sense organs to the CNS.
Efferent nerves: Carry messages from the CNS to muscles or glands.

4. (i) Where is synapse found?
(ii) What is its function?
Ans: A synapse is found between two neurons.
Function – It helps transmit nerve impulses from one neuron to another.

5. What is reflex action? Give an example.
Ans: Reflex action is a quick, involuntary response to a stimulus; e.g., withdrawing a hand from a hot object.

6. Explain simple reflex action.
Ans: A simple reflex action is an automatic response controlled by the spinal cord without involving the brain.

7. What is Ganglion?
Ans: A ganglion is a cluster of neuron cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system.

8. What is reflex action?
Ans: Reflex action is an immediate and involuntary response to a stimulus.

9. What are sense organs?
Ans: Sense organs are body parts that help us feel things around us, like eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin.

10. What are the functions of ear?
Ans: The ear helps in hearing and maintaining body balance.

11. Which organs maintain equilibrium of the body?
Ans: The semicircular canals of the inner ear maintain equilibrium.

12. Which system coordinates functions of organs in animals?
Ans: The nervous system.

13. Full names of CNS and PNS?
Ans: CNS – Central Nervous System; PNS – Peripheral Nervous System.

14. Structural and functional unit of nervous system?
Ans: Neuron.

15. Where does myelin sheath exist?
Ans: It surrounds the axon of many neurons.

16. How does a nerve message pass from one neuron to another?
Ans: A nerve impulse moves from one neuron to another across a synapse.

17. Example of reflex action?
Ans: Knee-jerk response.

18. Main part of the central nervous system?
Ans: Brain.

19. Where is the retina present?
Ans: The retina is present on the inner layer of the eye.

20. Where is an image formed in the eye?
Ans: On the retina.

21. Function of cornea?
Ans: The cornea bends and focuses light entering the eye.

22. In which organ is sclera present?
Ans: Eye.

23. Function of pupil?
Ans: The pupil controls how much light enters the eye.

24. Name an organ that maintains body balance.
Ans: Cerebellum.

3. Short-type questions and answers

1. What are functions of nerve?
Ans: Nerves carry messages between the brain, spinal cord and all parts of the body.

2. What is receptor?
Ans: A receptor is a sense organ or cell that senses changes in the environment.

3. Importance of different reflexes in everyday life.
Ans: Reflexes protect us from danger, maintain posture, help in breathing, swallowing, and many automatic actions.

4. What is receptor? Describe with an example.
Ans: A receptor is a cell or sense organ that senses changes around us. Example: Taste buds on the tongue sense different tastes like sweet or sour.

5. What is stimulus? How many types are there?
Ans: A stimulus is anything that makes our body react—like light, sound, heat, or touch.
Types of stimuli:

Biological: infection or germs
Physical: light, sound
Chemical: smell, taste
Mechanical: touch, pressure
Thermal: heat, cold

6. Describe each type of nerves.
Ans:

Type of Nerve	Clear and Complete Function
Sensory nerve	A sensory nerve carries impulses from sense organs to the CNS.
Motor nerve	A motor nerve carries impulses from the CNS to muscles or glands.
Mixed nerve	A mixed nerve carries impulses both to and from the CNS because it has both sensory and motor fibres.

7. What is neurotransmitter?
Ans: A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that a neuron releases to pass a message across a synapse. Examples include dopamine and acetylcholine.

8. Describe the synthesis of neurotransmitter or slow axonal transport.
Ans: Neurotransmitters are made in the cell body of a neuron. The neuron then slowly carries these neurotransmitters along the axon to the axon terminals, where they are stored and later released to send messages.

9. Full form of ANS. Describe it.
Ans: ANS: Autonomic Nervous System
It controls involuntary actions like heartbeat, breathing, digestion, and gland activities.

10. What are the important cranial nerves?
Ans: Important cranial nerves include optic nerve, olfactory nerve, vagus nerve, facial nerve, auditory nerve.

11. What is brain? Describe its parts.
Ans: Brain is the control center of the body.
Parts:

Forebrain: Cerebrum, thalamus, hypothalamus
Midbrain: Controls visual and auditory reflexes
Hindbrain: Cerebellum, pons, medulla oblongata

12. Difference between cerebrum and cerebellum.
Ans:

Cerebrum	Cerebellum
The cerebrum controls thinking, memory and intelligence.	The cerebellum controls balance and posture.
It helps us in learning, reasoning and decision-making.	It helps us move our body smoothly and in a coordinated way.
It controls voluntary actions like writing, speaking and walking.	It controls fine motor skills like catching a ball or riding a bicycle.
It is the largest part of the brain.	It is the second largest part of the brain.
It interprets senses such as sight, hearing, taste and touch.	It maintains body position and prevents us from falling.

13. Components and functions of spinal cord.
Ans:

Components of Spinal Cord	Functions of Spinal Cord
Grey matter	Conducts nerve impulses between body and brain.
White matter	Sends messages up and down the spinal cord.
Central canal	Helps circulate cerebrospinal fluid.
	Controls reflex actions like knee-jerk.

14. State the characters of afferent nerves.
Ans: Afferent nerves are sensory nerves that carry messages from receptors to the brain or spinal cord.

15. What are affectors?
Ans: Affectors are sense organs that receive stimuli, such as eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin.

16. Mention the characters of mixed nerve.
Ans: Mixed nerves have both sensory and motor fibres, so they can carry messages both to and from the CNS.

17. What is synapse?
Ans: A synapse is the small gap between two neurons where messages pass from one neuron to another.

18. State the function of synapse.
Ans: A synapse helps pass nerve impulses from one neuron to another using chemicals called neurotransmitters.

19. What are efferent nerves?
Ans: Nerves that carry instructions from CNS to muscles or glands.

20. What are mixed nerves?
Ans: Nerves that have both afferent and efferent fibres and can transmit signals both ways.

4. Long-type questions and answers

1. What is nervous system?
Ans: The nervous system is the body’s control and communication network. It receives information from the environment through sense organs, sends it to the brain, and then the brain instructs different body parts how to respond. It also helps us think, learn, remember, feel sensations, and maintain balance and coordination. The nervous system is made of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It controls both voluntary activities (like walking) and involuntary actions (like heartbeat and breathing). Thus, the nervous system keeps the body working properly and helps us react to any situation quickly.

2. What is nerve? What is its function?
Ans: A nerve is a bundle of many nerve fibres (axons) enclosed in a protective covering which connect the brain and spinal cord to all parts of the body.

Functions of a nerve:

Nerves carry messages between the central nervous system and body parts.
Sensory nerves bring information to the brain (like pain, touch, heat).
Motor nerves carry commands from the brain to muscles (to move) and to glands (to secrete).
Mixed nerves do both functions.
Thus, nerves act like electric wires that help in communication inside the body.

3. Mention the characteristic features of two main types of nerve. Cite examples.
Ans:

Type of Nerve	Characteristics / Features	Examples
Sensory Nerves (Afferent)	• A sensory nerve carries impulses from sense organs to the CNS. • A sensory nerve helps the body feel touch, pain, temperature, and pressure. • A sensory nerve brings information from the outside world to the brain. • A sensory nerve starts from receptors such as skin, eyes, and nose.	Optic nerve (vision) Olfactory nerve (smell) Auditory nerve (hearing)
Motor Nerves (Efferent)	• A motor nerve carries impulses from the CNS to muscles or glands. • A motor nerve helps the body perform movements like walking, writing, and blinking. • A motor nerve controls actions such as muscle contraction and gland secretion. • A motor nerve ends in muscles and glands (effectors).	Facial nerve (controls face muscles) Spinal motor nerves Hypoglossal nerve (tongue movement)

4. What is reflex action? Give example of reflex action.
Ans: A reflex action is a quick, automatic and involuntary response that helps protect the body from harm. It happens very fast because the spinal cord controls the action without waiting for the brain to think.

Examples:

Pulling back your hand quickly after touching something hot.
Blinking when an object comes towards the eye.
Sneezing when dust enters the nose.

5. Explain reflex action with example.
Ans: A reflex action is a quick and automatic response that the body makes to protect itself from danger. When the receptor senses something harmful, it sends a message to the spinal cord. The spinal cord then sends an immediate message to the muscles to act without waiting for the brain. This quick pathway of messages from receptor to spinal cord and then to muscle is called the reflex arc.

Example:
If you touch a hot object accidentally, your finger pulling back quickly before you realize it. This is because the spinal cord sends a quick message to pull the hand away, preventing a burn.
Other examples include knee-jerk action, blinking of eyes, coughing, sneezing, etc.

6. What are the component parts of simple reflex arc?
Ans:

Component	Function
Receptor	The receptor senses the stimulus, such as heat, pain or pressure on the skin.
Afferent / Sensory neurone	The sensory neurone carries the message from the receptor to the spinal cord.
Interneurone	The interneurone connects the sensory neurone to the motor neurone inside the spinal cord.
Efferent / Motor neurone	The motor neurone carries the message from the spinal cord to the muscle or gland.
Effector	The effector, such as a muscle or gland, produces the quick response (like pulling the hand away).

7. What is neurone? Discuss the relation between the neurone and nerve.
Ans: A neurone is the basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system. It has a cell body, dendrites, and an axon and is responsible for carrying nerve impulses.

Neurone	Nerve
A neurone is a single nerve cell.	A nerve is a bundle of many neurones.
A neurone has a cell body, dendrites and one axon.	A nerve has many axons grouped together like wires in a cable.
A neurone carries impulses within the nervous system.	A nerve carries impulses between the CNS and different body parts.

8. Distinguish between afferent sensory neurone and efferent motor neurone.
Ans:

Afferent (Sensory) Neurone	Efferent (Motor) Neurone
An afferent neurone carries impulses from receptors to the CNS.	An efferent neurone carries impulses from the CNS to muscles or glands.
An afferent neurone helps the body sense changes in the environment.	An efferent neurone helps the body produce movements or gland actions.
The cell body of an afferent neurone is located in the dorsal root ganglion.	The cell body of an efferent neurone lies inside the spinal cord.
An afferent neurone has a long dendrite and a short axon.	An efferent neurone has a short dendrite and a long axon.
An example of an afferent neurone is a fibre of the optic nerve.	An example of an efferent neurone is the nerve supplying the biceps muscle.