2) Biopsychology - Nervous System and Neurones

Question 1

What are the divisions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

Central Nervous System (CNS)
and
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Question 2

What is the CNS made of?

Answer 2

Brain and the Spinal Cord

Question 3

Describe the brain

Answer 3

Centre of all conscious awareness

Question 4

Describe the Spinal Cord

Answer 4

Extension of the brain, responsible for reflex actions

Question 5

What is the PNS?

Answer 5

• Transmits messages via neurones to and away from the CNS.

Question 6

What are the subdivisions of the PNS?

Answer 6

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

Question 7

What is the ANS?

Answer 7

• Governs unconscious vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, digestion etc

Question 8

What is the SNS?

Answer 8

• Conscious actions such as muscle movement, receives information from sensory receptors

Question 9

What are the types of neurones?

Answer 9

Sensory, Relay, Motor

Question 10

What is the function of a sensory neurone?

Answer 10

Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS.

Question 11

What is the structure of the Sensory Neurone?

Answer 11

• Long dendrites

- Short axon

Question 12

What is the function of the relay neurone?

Answer 12

Connect neurones together

Question 13

What is the structure of a relay neurone?

Answer 13

• Short dendrites

- Short axons

Question 14

What is the function of a motor neurone?

Answer 14

Connect CNS to effectors, such as muscles and glands

Question 15

What is the structure of a motor neurone?

Answer 15

• Short dendrites

- Long axons

Question 16

What is the cell body of a neuron?

Answer 16

Contains a nucleus with genetic material inside

Question 17

What are dendrites in a neuron?

Answer 17

• Branch structures which protrude from the cell body.

- Carry nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons to the cell body.

Question 18

What is the axon of a neuron?

Answer 18

• Carry impulses away from the cell body.

- Covered in myelin sheath with gaps of myelin called the nodes of Ranvier allowing impulses to jump across gaps.

Question 19

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 19

Chemicals which diffuse across the synapse

Question 20

What is the process of synaptic transmission?

Answer 20

• ## Stimulus causes the inside of the cell to become positively charged causing an action potential to occur.

Question 21

What is excitation in terms of synaptic transmission?

Answer 21

When a neurotransmitter makes a neurone more positive making it more likely to fire

Question 22

What is inhibition?

Answer 22

When a neurotransmitter makes a neurone more negative, making it less likely to fire.