Locomotion and Movement
Movement is a fundamental characteristic of living organisms, exhibited by both animals and plants. It takes place in various forms, ranging from simple protoplasm in Amoeba to the movement of cilia, flagella, and tentacles in many organisms. Human beings have the ability to move their limbs, jaws, eyelids, tongue, and other organs with voluntary muscles. In these, some movements involve changing position or location and are known as locomotion. Locomotion includes walking, running, climbing, flying, and swimming.
The structures involved in locomotion may also play a vital role in other types of movement. For instance, in Paramecium, cilia assist in both food movement and locomotion. Hydra uses its tentacles for capturing prey and locomotion. Limbs are used by humans for changes in body posture and locomotion. These observations indicate that movements and locomotion are interconnected. So, it can be stated that “While all locomotions are movements, not all movements are locomotions”.
The methods of locomotion adapted by animals vary based on their habitats and specific needs. Generally, locomotion serves purposes such as searching for food, shelter, suitable breeding grounds, favorable climatic conditions, or escaping from predators.
Also Read: Locomotion and Movement
Types of Movement
Cells of the human body exhibit three major types of movements that are amoeboid, ciliary, and muscular.
- Amoeboid movement is observed in specialized cells like macrophages and leucocytes, as well as in organisms like Amoeba. Amoeboid movement is facilitated by the formation of pseudopodia through the streaming of protoplasm, with the involvement of cytoskeletal elements like microfilaments.
- Ciliary movement occurs in internal tubular organs lined by ciliated epithelium. The coordinated movements of cilia in organs like the trachea help remove dust particles and foreign substances inhaled by the atmospheric air. It also facilitates the passage of ova through the female reproductive tract.
- Muscular movement is responsible for the movement of limbs, jaws, tongue, etc. The contractile property of muscles is used for locomotion and other movements in human beings and most multicellular organisms. Locomotion requires coordination between the muscular, skeletal, and neural systems.
NCERT Notes for Class 11 Biology Chapter 17: Locomotion and Movement
NCERT and CBSE Notes for Class 11 Biology Chapter 17: Locomotion and Movement: The given article is a detailed introduction to the class 11 chapter “Locomotion and Movement”. The article discusses all the important topics and their related sub-topics which include muscles, types of muscles, muscle contraction, skeletal system, and a brief illustration of different types of bones present in the human body.
Notes on Locomotion and Movement of NCERT Class 11 The article also looks into the structure of contractile protein and its functioning. A bunch of frequently asked questions are also included in this article for better understanding.
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