5: Response to stimuli Flashcards
Why is it important to be able to respond to stimuli?
So that the organism has a greater chance of survival, and therefore have a greater chance of raising offspring and passing their alleles to the next generation
What are stimuli detected by?
Receptors such as cells/organs
What do receptors do?
Detect the stimuli and transform the energy of the stimulus into some form of energy that is processed by the organism, leading to a response
What is a response carried out by?
Effectors such as cells/tissues/organs and systems
Define taxis
A simple response whose direction is determined by the direction of the stimulus
Positive taxis
Movement is towards the stimulus
Negative taxis
Movement is away from the stimulus
What is a kinesis?
A form of response in which an organism doesn’t move away from or towards the stimulus.
The more unpleasant the stimulus, the more rapidly the organism moves and changes direction
Results in an increase in random movements
Designed to bring the organism back into favourable conditions
What is a tropism?
A growth movement of part of a plant in response to a directional stimulus
What is the simplest type of nervous response to a stimulus?
A reflex arc
What are the 2 major divisions that make up the nervous system?
The CNS (Central Nervous System) -> made up of brain and spinal cord The PNS (Peripheral Nervous System) -> made up of pairs of nerves that originate from either the brain or spinal cord
What is the PNS divided into?
Sensory neurones which carry nerve impulses from receptors towards the CNS.
Motor neurones which carry nerve impulses away from the CNS to effectors.
What is the motor nervous system subdivided into?
The voluntary nervous system
The autonomic nervous system
What does the voluntary nervous system do?
Carries nerve impulses to body muscles and is under voluntary/conscious control
What does the autonomic nervous system do?
Carries nerve impulses to glands, smooth muscle and cardiac muscle and is not under voluntary control.
What is a reflex arc?
The pathway of neurones involved in a reflex.
The response is involuntary to a sensory stimulus
Importance of reflex arcs
Involuntary- doesn’t require the decision-making powers of the brain
Protects the body from harmful stimuli
Fast- the neurone pathway is short with few synapses (slowest link in a neurone pathway) which is particularly important in withdrawal reflexes.