AQA · GCSE · Combined Science
Course version: 8464 · Version from Sept 2018
Coordination centres (such as the brain, spinal cord and pancreas) that…
Full specification wording
Homeostasis: coordination centres (such as the brain, spinal cord and pancreas) that receive and process information from receptors
Coordination centres receive information from receptors and process it to decide what the body should do.
Checked against the AQA 8464 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 10 of 11
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Coordination centres receive information from receptors and process it to decide what the body should do. The brain processes information from many receptors and coordinates responses such as movement. The spinal cord carries information and coordinates rapid reflex actions. The pancreas is a coordination centre for blood glucose: it receives information about glucose concentration and releases hormones such as insulin (and glucagon for Higher Tier students). Processing means the centre interprets incoming signals—either electrical impulses in the nervous system or chemical levels in the blood—and sends instructions to effectors. Always link the centre to its specific input and output.
What earns the marks
- Coordination centres receive information from receptors and process it.
- The brain, spinal cord and pancreas are examples of coordination centres.
- The brain coordinates responses to many stimuli and the spinal cord links the brain with the rest of the body and coordinates some reflexes.
- The pancreas processes information about blood glucose concentration and releases hormones such as insulin (and glucagon, Higher Tier only).
- Processing leads to instructions being sent to effectors, either via electrical impulses or hormones.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Describing the pancreas only as a digestive organ.
Put it right by stating that it also acts as a coordination centre by releasing hormones that control blood glucose.
Saying the spinal cord only carries messages.
Put it right: It also coordinates some reflex actions itself, so mention both roles.
Assuming processing only involves electrical impulses.
Put it right by remembering the pancreas processes chemical information about blood glucose.
Exam tips
- Name the coordination centre and say what information it receives and what it does with it, rather than listing organs alone.
- For blood glucose questions, identify the pancreas as the coordination centre and name the hormones involved (noting glucagon is Higher Tier only).
Try the lesson
The start of the Homeostasis: coordination centres (such as the brain, spinal cord and pancreas) that receive and process information from receptors lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of these is a coordination centre in the human body?
Listen
Coordination centres receive information from receptors and process it to decide what the body should do. The brain processes information from many receptors and coordinates responses such as movement. The spinal cord carries information and coordinates rapid reflex actions. The pancreas is a coordination centre for blood glucose: it receives information about glucose concentration and releases hormones such as insulin (and glucagon for Higher Tier students). Processing means the centre interprets incoming signals—either electrical impulses in the nervous system or chemical levels in the blood—and sends instructions to effectors. Always link the centre to its specific input and output. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Coordination centres receive information from receptors and process it. The brain, spinal cord and pancreas are examples of coordination centres. The brain coordinates responses to many stimuli and the spinal cord links the brain with the rest of the body and coordinates some reflexes. The pancreas processes information about blood glucose concentration and releases hormones such as insulin (and glucagon, Higher Tier only). A common slip: Describing the pancreas only as a digestive organ. Instead, stating that it also acts as a coordination centre by releasing hormones that control blood glucose. Exam tip: Name the coordination centre and say what information it receives and what it does with it, rather than listing organs alone.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Coordination centres
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Brain
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Spinal cord
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Pancreas
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See every definition
- Coordination centres
- Structures such as the brain, spinal cord and pancreas that receive and process information from receptors.
- Brain
- A coordination centre that processes information from many receptors and coordinates responses such as movement.
- Spinal cord
- A coordination centre that carries information and coordinates rapid reflex actions.
- Pancreas
- A coordination centre for blood glucose that receives information about glucose concentration and releases hormones such as insulin.
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