Coordination and Integration in Vertebrates: Overview

Giorgio Gabella, University College, London, UK

Published online: April 2001

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0001844

Integration is the process of combining parts to create a coordinated, or integrated, whole; it is found at all levels of organization of living matter. Every biological function is the expression of some sort of integration of parts, which allows the complexity of a system to grow and new properties to emerge.

Keywords: cell junctions; desmosomes; synapses; central nervous system; autonomic nervous system; fight-or-flight response; endocrine system; sympathetic nerves

 Further Reading
    book Alberts B, Bray D, Lewis J et al. (1994) Molecular Biology of the Cell. New York: Garland.
    book Nilsson S and Holmgren S (1994) Comparative Physiology and Evolution of the Autonomic Nervous System. Chur: Harwood.

Related Sub-Topics:

Organisation of the Nervous System | Multicellularity
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Article Title: Coordination and Integration in Vertebrates: Overview
 
How to Cite close
Gabella, Giorgio(Apr 2001) Coordination and Integration in Vertebrates: Overview. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0001844]