2. control and communication

Question 1

what is the CNS made of?

Answer 1

brain and spinal cord

Question 2

function of cerebrum

Answer 2

responsible for conscious thoughts, reasoning, memory and emotions

Question 3

function of cerebellum

Answer 3

controls balance and coordinated movement

Question 4

function of medulla

Answer 4

controls heart rate and breathing rate

Question 5

describe the flow of the electrical impulse through the nervous system

Answer 5

a STIMULUS (e.g bell ringing) is detected by RECEPTORS of the persons sense organs (e.g ears). The stimulated receptors in send an electrical impulse along a SENSORY NEURON to an INTER NEURON in the CNS. The inter neuron in the CNS processes this info and then sends and electrical impulse, to and along a MOTOR NEURON to an EFFECTOR (e.g. muscle or gland) to cause a RESPONSE

Question 6

what is a synapse

Answer 6

the gap between the end of one neuron and the start of the next neuron

chemicals transfer electrical impulses from one neuron, across the synapse, to the next neuron

Question 7

what is a reflex action

Answer 7

rapid, automatic, involuntary

protects the body from harm - brain is not involved but electrical impulses arrive at brain during/after the action (e.g blinking, iris reflex, knee reflex, limb withdrawal)

Question 8

what are hormones

Answer 8

chemical messengers, released directly into the bloodstream by endocrine glands. They stimulate target tissues which have specific protein receptors, complementary to specific hormones

Question 9

if blood glucose level rises…

Answer 9

the cells in pancreas release insulin into the blood, the insulin will convert excess glucose into glycogen and store it in the liver, blood glucose decreases

glucose –> glycogen

Question 10

if blood glucose levels fall…

Answer 10

cells in pancreas release glucagon, this breaks down glycogen in the liver into glucose, blood glucose levels rise

glycogen–>glucose