4.7: Nervous system Flashcards
Define a stimulus.
A change in an organisms internal or external environment.
What is a sense organ?
A aggregation of receptor cells that respond to specific stimuli.
What is the stimulus-response control system?
This is the process by which an organism responds to a stimulus Stimulus → receptor/detector → coordinator → effector → response.
What is the purpose of senses?
To increase your chances of survival.
What is the function of the nervous system?
To detect and process information and initiate responses to stimuli.
What is the function of sensory cells and sense organs?
They detect information (stimuli) and relay it to the effectors. They act as transducers - they convert from one form of energy (light, sound, pH, chemicals, pressure, temprature) into electrical energy.
What happens to electrochemical energy which has been transduced by a receptor?
The electrochemical energy is sent from the sensory receptors via the peripheral nervous system (PNS) to the central nervous system (CNS).
What is the PNS (peripheral nervous system)?
This is the individual neurones and ganglia that connect the receptors and effectors to the CNS.
What is the CNS (central nervous system?)
The spinal chord and brain.
What happens once the brain receives the information from the receptors?
It processes the information and initiates an appropriate response by communicating with the effectors.
What are effectors?
These are the things that bring about a response - muscles and glands.
What is a reflex reaction?
A rapid, involuntary response resulting from nervous impulses initiated by a stimulus: It is involuntary because conscious control by the brain is not involved. They are generally protective in nature because they are quick.
What is a reflex arc?
The pathway of the nerve impulses along different neurones during a reflex reaction.
Outline the reflex arc.
1.) a receptor detects a stimulus 2.) this sends a nerve impulse via sensory neurone to a relay neurone in the spinal cord. 3.) this sends an impulse straight back to muscles via a motor neurone. 4.) this initiates a response (muscles/glands) without going through the brain.
Do reflex reactions bypass the brain completely?
No. A nervous impulse still gets sent to the brain via the spinal chord but the response happens on an independent loop - not waiting for the response from the brain to happen.
Give a breakdown of the process of the reflex arc.
Stimulus → receptor → Sensory neurone → intermediate/relay neurone → motor neurone → effector → response
Label this diagram.
Complete this diagram to show a reflex arc.
Give some examples of reflex reactions.
Flexion of the arm in response to touching a hot surface
Flexion of the leg in response to standing on an upturned plug
Knee-jerk reaction
Pupil contraction on bright light
Babinski reaction of the foot and toes.
Why are actions such as blinking, coughing and swallowing co-ordinated by reflexes?
To make sure you don;’t get uncoordinated and stop halfway through the action.
What other complications can be involved in a reflex arc?
Even in a simple reflex arc the brain may overcome and modify the response - it may relate the information recieved with information from other sensory input such as visual input from the eyes. e.g dropping a hot metal tray quickly whilst dropping a equally hot glass dish more gently.
What is the function of inhibitory synapses?
These allow your brain to make conscious decisions about reflex reactions. The brain may transmit nerve impulses down the spinal cord via neurones that terminate in inhibitory synapses which, for example, may prevent you from dropping a hot glass dish immediately.
in a reflex reaction what is the purpouse of also sending a neuronal signal to the brain via relay neurones.
This information can be used to allow you to make concious decisions about a reflex action and can be used for learning.
What are the ascending and descending nerve fibers in the spinal cord used for?
They are used to transmit neuronal impulses in both reflex and voulantary actions.
What are the three types on neurones?
Sensory Neurones
Motor Neurones
Connectore/intermediate/relay neurones.
What is the function of sensory neurones
These bring impulses from the sense organs/receptors in to the CNS
What is the function of Motor neurones?
these carry impulses from the CNS to the effector organs (muscles or glands)
What is the function of relay neurones?
These recieve impulses from sensory neurones or other relay neurones and relay them to motor neurones (or other relay neurones)
What is contained within the cell body of a neurone?
Nucleus, granular cytoplasm and lots of ribosomes.
What do ribosomes in the cell body of a neurone from?
They group together to form Nissl granules.
What is the function of the ribosomes within the cell body of a neurone?
To synthesise neurotransmitters.
What are dendrites?
Thin extentions from the cell body of a neurone that connect to other cells. Dendrites recieve impulses from other neurones and carry them towards the cell body.
What are axon terminals?
At its end the axon divides into branches called axon terminals which connect to other neurones.
What is an axon?
A long membrane-covered extention from the cell body of a neurone. Axons transmit impulses away from the cell body. Peripheral neurones have a myelin sheath around the axon made up of schwann cells wrapped around the axon. During myelination the membrane of the schwann cells extends and wraps around the axon. The membranes of the schwann cells are rich in a lipid called myelin.
What is the function of the Myelin sheath?
The fatty myelin sheath acts as an electrical insulator around the neurones and speeds up impulse transmission. The schwann cells also support and protect the neurones and provide them with nutrients.
In what kind of organisms are these multi-layered myelin sheaths found?
They are only found in vertebrates.
Label this neurone.
What is the function of the nodes of Ranvier?
The nodes of Ranvier speed up impulse transmission.
What are neurones?
Highly specialised cells that link together to form pathways and generate and transmit nerve impulses.
What is a nerve?
A bundle of neurones surrounded by a protective sheath of fibrous tissue.
Label the parts of the spine.
Label the regions of the spinal cord. (ignore black arrows)
What is grey matter?
The grey matter resides in the central area of the spine and contains all the cell bodies and relay neurones.
What is white matter?
This is found around the outside of the spinal cord and consists of the myelinated axons that run up and down the spinal cord, to and from the brain. It appears white because of the presence of myelin.
Where do the sensory neurones enter the spinal cord?
Through the dorsal root.
Where are the cell bodies of the sensory neurones found?
The dorsal root ganglion.
Where do motor neurones exit the spinal cord?
Through the ventral root of the spiunal cord.
Define ventral.
on or relating to the underside of an animal or plant; abdominal
Define Dorsal.
on or relating to the upper side or back of an animal, plant, or organ.
Where are the cell bodies of the motor neurones found?
The grey matter of the spinal cord.
What do neurones transmit?
Electrochemical impulses.
What is an electrochemical impulse?
A signal which is electrical in nature but created by the movment of ions not electrons.