Year 11 Biology

YEAR 11 TERM 1 BIOLOGY COURSE OUTLINE

Topic: coordination and response

• Understand that organisms are able to respond to changes in their environment
• Understand that homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment and that body water content and body temperature are both examples of homeostasis
• Understand that a coordinated response requires a stimulus, a receptor and an effector

Flowering plants

• Understand that plants respond to stimuli
• Describe the geotropic responses of roots and stems
• Describe positive phototropism of stems

Humans

• Describe how responses can be controlled by nervous or by hormonal communication and understand the differences between the two systems
• Understand that the central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord and is linked to sense organs by nerves
• Understand that stimulation of receptors in the sense organs sends electrical impulses along nerves into and out of the central nervous system, resulting in rapid responses
• Describe the structure and functioning of a simple reflex arc illustrated by the withdrawal of a finger from a hot object
• Describe the structure and function of the eye as a receptor
• Understand the function of the eye in focusing near and distant objects, and in responding to changes in light intensity
• Describe the role of the skin in temperature regulation, with reference to sweating, vasoconstriction and vasodilation
• Understand the sources, roles and effects of the following hormones: ADH, adrenaline, insulin, testosterone, progesterone and oestrogen.