Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

biology > 2.10B to 2.14 - The nervous system > Flashcards

2.10B to 2.14 - The nervous system Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is the central nervous system?

A

Brain and spinal cord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the spinal cord?

A

A long, thin structure composed of neurones that extends from the medulla oblongata down the spine.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the function of the spinal cord?

A

Connects the peripheral nervous system (nerves outside of the CNS) to the brain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe the structure of the brain

A

Consists of three main regions:
● Cerebrum
● Cerebellum
● Medulla oblongata

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the structure of the cerebrum

A

● Largest region of the brain
● Divided into two hemispheres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the function of the cerebrum?

A

Involved in:
● Intelligence
● Language
● Memory
● Emotion
● Visual and sensory processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the function of each cerebral hemisphere?

A

● Left hemisphere receives sensory information from the right side of the body and controls muscle coordination on the right
● Right hemisphere receives sensory information from the left side of the body and controls muscle coordination on the left

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Where is the cerebellum located?

A

Lower region of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the function of the cerebellum?

A

Involved in:
● Coordination of muscles
● Voluntary movement e.g. walking
● Non-voluntary movement e.g. balance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the function of the medulla oblongata?

A

Controls automatic processes in the body e.g. breathing rate, heart rate, peristalsis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What methods, other than surgery, are used by doctors to observe the brain?

A

● CT scan
● PET scan

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a CT scan?

A

A procedure that uses X-rays to produce 3D cross-sectional images of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe how CT scans are useful to investigate brain function

A

● CT scans show damaged regions of the brain e.g. areas of swelling, bleeding
● Observations of the patient’s symptoms can enable scientists to determine the function of the damaged region

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What does a PET scan involve?

A

● Radioactive substance injected into a patient’s bloodstream and taken up by tissues in the brain
● Radiation emitted by tissues detected, enabling the identification of active and inactive regions of the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe how PET scans are useful to investigate brain function

A

● Show which areas of the brain are active and which areas are not
● Comparisons of brain activity in healthy patients and patients with brain damage allow scientists to determine the functions of inactive regions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why is it difficult to treat damage to the CNS?

A

● Damage to neurones is permanent and cannot be repaired (as nerve cells don’t divide by mitosis)
● Hard to reach some areas of the brain
● Risk of further permanent damage to other areas of the CNS during surgery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the function of the nervous system?

A

Allows an organism to rapidly react to environmental and internal changes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are neurones?

A

Nerve cells adapted to quickly transmit nerve impulses. They are the functional units of the nervous system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the function of the axon?

A

● Carries impulses away from the cell body
● Enables the transmission of nerve impulses over long distances

20
Q

What is the function of the dendrites and dendrons?

A

● Carry impulses towards the cell body
● Dendrites provide a large surface area to receive impulses

21
Q

What is the role of the myelin sheath?

A

● Electrically insulating layer
● Surrounds the axon and increases the speed of impulses

22
Q

Outline the function of a sensory neurone

A

Carries impulses from receptors to the central nervous system

23
Q

Describe the structure of a sensory neurone

A

●Long dendron carries impulses from receptors to the cell body
● Cell body found part way along the neurone
●Short axon carries impulses from the cell body to the CNS

24
Q

Outline the function of a motor neurone

A

Carries impulses from the central nervous system to effectors

25
Q

Describe the structure of a motor neurone

A

●Short dendrites carry impulses from the CNS to the cell body
● Cell body found at one end of the neurone
●Long axon carries impulses from the cell body to the effectors

26
Q

Outline the function of a relay neurone

A

Carries impulses from sensory neurones to motor neurones within the central nervous system

27
Q

Describe the structure of a relay neurone

A

●Short dendrites carry impulses from sensory neurones to the cell body
●Short axon carries impulses from the cell body to motor neurones

28
Q

Describe how the central nervous system coordinates a response to a stimulus

A

● Stimulus
● Sensory receptor detects stimulus
● Sensory receptor sends impulses along sensory neurone to CNS
● CNS coordinates response
● CNS sends information to effector along motor neurone
● Effector produces a response to the stimulus

29
Q

What is a synapse?

A

A small gap between neurones across which a nerve impulse is transmitted via neurotransmitters

30
Q

How are nerve impulses transmitted across a synapse?

A

● Nerve impulse reaches presynaptic neurone
● This triggers the release of neurotransmitters
● Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse
● They bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neurone
● This stimulates an impulse in the postsynaptic neurone

31
Q

Why do synapses slow down the transmission of nerve impulses?

A

It takes time for the neurotransmitters to diffuse across the synapse and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neurone.

32
Q

What is a reflex?

A

● Automatic response to a stimulus by the body
● Involuntary - does not involve conscious part of the brain
● Protective mechanism e.g. a withdrawal reflex is initiated when a hot object is touched to prevent burns

33
Q

Describe the reflex arc

A

stimulus → sensory receptor → sensory neurone → relay neurone → motor neurone → effector → response

34
Q

describe two structural differences between a motor neurone and a sensory neurone (2)

A
  1. sensory neurones have one long dendron, whereas motor neurones have many short dendrites (1)
  2. sensory neurones have a cell body located in the middle of the neurone, whereas motor neurones have a cell body at one end. (1)
35
Q

explain why a person with motor neurone disease may have difficulty swallowing (2)

A

the motor neurones don’t work properly, so impulses don’t get passed on from the CNS (1) to the muscles involved in swollowing (1).

36
Q

Nervous system

A

The network of nerve cells and fibres that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body

37
Q

Neurones

A

Basic cells of the nervous system that carry electrical impulses around the body

38
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

The parts of the nervous system outside of the brain and spinal cord such as the sensory and motor neurones

39
Q

Stimulus

A

A change in an organism’s surroundings

40
Q

Receptors

A

Special structures that allow living organisms to sense the conditions of their internal or external environment

41
Q

Sense organs

A

Clusters of receptor cells that respond to specific stimuli such as light, sound, touch, temperature, chemicals and then relay this information as electrical impulses along neurones to the central nervous system

42
Q

Effector

A

A structure that acts in response to a stimulus such as muscles which contract or glands which secrete hormones

43
Q

Reflex arc

A

A shorter nerve pathway involved in a reflex action made up of a sensory neurone, relay neurone and a motor neurone

44
Q

Relay neurone

A

A short type of neurone that is involved in reflex actions and is found in the spinal cord

45
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

A chemical that is released from the ends of an active neurone and diffuses across the synapse to other neurones

biology (8 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions