Neural Control and Coordination

NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 18

Neural Control and Coordination for Class 11 Biology and NEET: neurons, the human neural system, nerve impulse, synapses and the parts of the brain.

4 topics Updated 8 Nov 2026

With your textbook

NCERT Biology (Class 11), Chapter 18 “Neural Control and Coordination”, reprint 2026-27.

Checked on 19 Oct 2026.

Learn in this order

Neural system and coordination
Neural vs chemical coordination, neurons as its units, and the nervous systems of cnidarians, insects and vertebrates.

NCERT Section 18.1 8 min read 3 solved examples 6 practice questions
Human neural system: CNS and PNS
CNS vs PNS, afferent vs efferent, somatic, autonomic and visceral systems, sympathetic vs parasympathetic.

NCERT Section 18.2 9 min read 4 solved examples 6 practice questions
Neuron, nerve impulse and synapse
Structure with a labelled diagram, types, myelinated fibres, resting and action potentials, and how a synapse works.

NCERT Section 18.3 16 min read 8 solved examples 8 practice questions
Central neural system: the brain
Forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain, what each part does, the meninges and the brain stem, with labelled diagrams.

NCERT Section 18.4 13 min read 5 solved examples 7 practice questions

neural coordination: quick, point-to-point
endocrine coordination: chemical, by hormones
cnidarians: a network of neurons → insects: brain + ganglia → vertebrates: more developed

neuron: dendrites (towards the cell body) → cell body → axon (away)
resting: outside positive, inside negative; K^⁺ high inside, Na^⁺ high outside
sodium-potassium pump: 3 Na^⁺ out for 2 K^⁺ in
action potential: Na^⁺ in → polarity reversed; K^⁺ out → resting potential back
chemical synapse: impulse → Ca^²⁺ entry → vesicle fusion → transmitter → postsynaptic response