5.5 Animal responses Flashcards
Why do animals respond to their environment?
What do they respond to?
To increase there chances of survival.
They respond to stimuli.
What detects stimuli?
receptors
What are the two parts of the nervous system?
Central and peripheral
nervous systems
What is the two parts of the peripheral nervous system?
Autonomic and somatic
What does the somatic nervous system do?
Controls conscious activities
What does the autonomic nervous system do?
Controls the unconscious activities
Give 2 examples of things the autonomic nervous systems controls.
- Heart rate
- digestion
What is the autonomic nervous system split into?
The sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems.
What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?
What does it release?
- prepares body for fight or flight
- releases noradrenalin neurotransmitter.
What is the role of the parasympathetic nervous system?
What does it release?
- The rest and digest system that relaxes body
- releases acetylcholine neurotransmitter.
What are the 5 different parts of the brain
- cerebellum
- cerebrum
- hypothalamus
- medulla oblongata
- pituitary gland
What is the structure of the cerebellum ?
The largest part of the brain.
Has two halves called hemispheres.
Outer layer called the cerebral cortex which is highly folded.
What is the cerebrum’s function?
- Vision
- Hearing
- Learning
- thinking
What is the structure of the hypothalamus?
Found beneath the middle part of the brain.
What is the role of the hypothalamus?
- Controls and maintains body temperature
- produces hormones that control the pituitary gland
What is the location of the medulla oblongata?
Located at the bottom of the brain but top of spine chord
What is the function of the medulla oblongata?
- Controls heart rate and breathing rates
What is the location and structure of the cerebellum?
Located and the back and bottom of the brain and is also folded.
What is the function of the cerebellum?
- Muscle co ordination
- posture
- balance
Where is the pituitary gland located ?
Found under the hypothalamus
What is the function of the pituitary gland?
- releases hormones and stimulates glands like the adrenal gland.
What is a reflex action?
When the body responds to a stimulus without making a conscious decision.
Why are reflex actions good?
- Don’t have to spend time thinking about them so protects an organism.
What is the pathway for reflex actions?
Stimulus
receptors
SENSORY NEURONE
RELAY NEURONE
MOTOR NEURONE
effector
response
- only has 3 neurones
What are the two reflex actions ? How do they work?
- blinking reflex - works to stop eye from damage
- knee jerk reflex - works to quickly straighten leg if quads are suddenly stretched
What is the fight or flight responses ?
When an organism is threatened it responds by preparing the body for action. The sympathetic nervous system is triggered .
What does the fight or flight response do to the hormones?
Releases adrenalin which causes a faster response
What are the effects of adrenaline?
- Heart rate increases so blood is pumped around the body faster
- Muscles around bronchi relax so airways widen
- Glycogen is converted into glucose via glycogenesis so more glucose for muscles to respire
- erector pili muscles contract and this makes hair stand on ends
