6A Stimuli and Responses Flashcards
How do animals responding to their environment help them?
They increase their chances of survival
They also respond to changes in their internal environment
What do receptors do?
They detect stimuli
What do effectors do?
They produce a response
Give some examples of receptors in humans
They can be cells or proteins on cell surface membranes
Loads of different types of receptors detect different stimuli
What can effectors be?
They can be muscle cells & cells found in glands
e.g. the pancreas
How does the nervous system send info?
As electrical impulses
What is the nervous system made up of?
It is a complex network of cells called neurones
What are the 3 main types of neurones?
- Sensory neurones
- Motor neurones
- Relay neurones
What do sensory neurones do?
They transmit electrical impulses from receptors to CNS - the brain & spinal cord
What do motor neurones do?
They transmit electrical impulses from the CNS to effectors
What do relay neurones do?
They transmit electrical impulses between sensory neurones & motor neurones
What can electrical impulses also be called?
- Nerve impulses
- Action potential
What sorts of stimuli do plants respond to?
They respond to changes in their environment:
- Light
- Gravity
Why do plants grow towards light?
To maximise light absorption for photosynthesis
Why do plants grow according to gravity?
They can sense gravity, their roots & shoots then grown in the right direction
How do climbing plants respond to stimuli?
They have a sense of touch, so they can find things to climb up & reach the sunlight
What is a tropism?
A plant’s growth response to an external (directional) stimulus
How do plants respond to stimuli in general?
By regulating their growth
What is a positive tropism?
Growth of the plant towards the stimulus
What is a negative tropism?
Growth of the plant away from the stimulus
What is phototropism?
The growth of a plant in response to light
How do shoots respond in phototropism?
Shoots are positively phototropic & grow towards light
How do roots respond to phototropism?
They are negatively phototropic & grow away from light
What is gravitropism?
The growth of a plant in response to gravity