3.6.1.1 reflexes

Question 1

what are the 2 nervous systems + their roles

Answer 1

central nervous system -primary command centre
peripheral nervous system - connect all nerves to the body

Question 2

what makes up the CNS

Answer 2

brain + spinal cord

Question 3

what makes up the PNS

Answer 3

cranial + spinal nerves

Question 4

divisions of the PNS + their roles

Answer 4

sensory nervous system - connects receptors and CNS
motor nervous system - connects CNS and effectors

Question 5

somatic + autonomic nervous system

Answer 5

somatic - voluntary movement of skeletal muscles
autonomic - involuntary movement of cardiac + smooth muscles

Question 6

sympathetic + parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 6

sympathetic - activate the body’s fight or flight response, increasing activity levels
parasympathetic - activate the body’s rest and digest response, reducing activity levels

Question 7

what is a reflex arc

Answer 7

A reflex arc is a neural pathway that causes an involuntary and immediate reaction to a stimulus, typically designed for protection.

Question 8

8 stages of the reflex arc

Answer 8

1. stimulus
2. receptor
3. sensory neurone
4. relay neurone
5. CNS
6. motor neurone
7. effector
8. response

Question 9

importance of reflex arcs

Answer 9

involuntary - allow the brain to focus on complex responses
protective - safeguard the body from potential harm
rapid - short neurone pathway
innate - not a process that needs to be learnt