Animal responses (CH13.6-13.10 and Ch14.5-14.6) Flashcards
Central nervous system
made up of the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
made up of the neurones that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
this includes the sensory neurons which carry impulses from receptors to the CNS and the motor neurons which carry nerve impulses from the CNS to effectors
It consists of the somatic and autonomic nervous system
Somatic nervous system
under conscious control
it is used when you voluntarily want to do something
Controls conscious activities e,g running
INPUT - sense organs, OUTPUT - skeletal muscles
Autonomic nervous system
Works constantly
Under subconscious control
Used when the body does something automatically (involuntary actions), without you deciding you want to do it
e.g controls heartbeat and digestion
INPUT = internal receptors, OUTPUT - smooth muscles and glands
Consists of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
sympathetic nervous system
Regulates fight/flight system
sympathetic neurons release the neurotransmitter noradrenaline
outcomes usually involve an increase in activity
Parasympathetic nervous system
Usually causes a decrease in activity
calms the body down
it is the rest and digest system
Parasympathetic neurons release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
comparison of autonomic and somatic nervous systems
SOMATIC:
- single neuron from CNS to effector organ
- heavily myelinated axon
NEUROTRANSMITTER- ACh
EFFECTOR - Skeletal muscle
EFFECT - stimulatory
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:
-lightly myelinated preganglionic axons
- Unmyelinated postganglionic axon
NEUROTRANSMITER - NA
EFFECTOR -smooth muscle, glands, cardiac muscle
EFFECT - Stimulatory and inhibitory depending on neurotransmitter and receptors on effector organs
PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:
-lightly myelinated preganglionic axons
- Unmyelinated postganglionic axon
NEUROTRANSMITER - ACh
EFFECTOR -smooth muscle, glands, cardiac muscle
EFFECT - Stimulatory and inhibitory depending on neurotransmitter and receptors on effector organs
Effect of sympathetic nervous system on:
1) Salivary glands
2) Lung
3) Kidney
4) Stomach
5) Small intestine
1) Reduced saliva production
2) Bronchial muscles relax
3) Decreased urine secretion
4) Reduced peristalsis
5) reduced peristalsis
Effect of parasympathetic nervous system on:
1) Salivary glands
2) Lung
3) Kidney
4) Stomach
5) Small intestine
1) increased saliva production
2) Bronchial muscles contract
3) Increased urine secretion
4) gastric juice secreted
5) Digestion increased
Function of the brain
Processes all of the information collected by receptor cells about changes in the internal and external environment
receives and processes information from the hormonal system through molecules in the blood
It then produces a coordinated response
The advantage of having a central control system for the whole body is that communication between neurones is faster
Structure of the brain
- protected by the skull
- surrounded by protective membranes (meninges)
5 main areas:
- cerebrum
- cerebellum
- medulla oblongata
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary gland
- they can be distinguished by their shape, colour or microscopic structure
Cerebrum
controls voluntary actions e.g learning, memory, personality and conscious thought
it is highly convoluted which increases its surface area and capacity for complex activity.
Divided into the left and right half (Cerebral hemispheres). Each hemisphere controls one half of the body and has discrete areas which perform specific functions
Cerebral cortex - thin outer layer which is highly folded
Reasoning and decision making occur in the frontal and pre-frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex.
Each sensory area within the cerebral hemisphere receives information from receptor cells in sense organs. the information is then passed on to other areas of the brain (association areas) to be analysed and acted upon.
Primary motor cortex (located at the back of the frontal lobe) controls movement
cerebellum
controls unconscious functions e.g posture, balance and non-voluntary movement
Medulla Oblongata
Used in autonomic control e.g controls heart rate and breathing rate
Hypothalamus
regulatory centre for temperature and water balance
Pituitary gland
Stores and releases hormones that regulate many body functions
Stages of a reflex arc
Receptor - detects stimulus and creates an action potential in the sensory neurone
Sensory neurone - carries impulse to spinal cord
Relay neurone - connects sensory neurone to motor neurone
Motor neurone - carried impulse to the effector
Effector - carries out the appropriate response
Reflex
- a body responds to a stimulus without conscious thought
Spinal cord structure
- a column of nervous tissue
- surrounded by thr spine for protection
- at intervals, neurones emerge
Knee-jerk reflex
Spinal reflex - the neural circuit only goes up to the spinal cord
Function - works to quickly straighten your leg if the body detects your quadriceps is suddenly stretched - helps to maintain posture and balance
Process:
- stretch receptors in the quadriceps muscle detect that the muscle is being stretched
- a nerve impulse is passed along a sensory neurone which communicates with a motor neurone in the spinal cord (no relay neurone involved)
- the motor neurone carries the nerve impulse to the effector (extensor muscle) causing it to contract
- at the same time a relay neurone inhibits the motor neurone of the flexor muscle causing it to relax
- lower leg moves forward quickly
Blinking reflex
Cranial reflex - occurs in the brain not spinal cord
- sensory nerve endings in the cornea are are stimulated by touch
- a nerve impulse is sent along the sensory neurone to a relay neurone in the CNS
- The impulse is passed from a relay neurone n the lower brain stem to a motor neurone
Motor neurones send impulses to the effectors (orbicularis oculi muscles) which contract causing your eyelids to close quickly - consensual response - both eyes are closed in response to the stimulus
Survival importance of reflexes
- avoid the body from being harmed/ reduce the severity of any damage
Involuntary response - the decision making regions of the brain aren’t involved so the brain is able to deal with more complex responses
Not having to be learnt - present at burn and provide immediate protection
Fast - the reflex arc is short - only involves 1/2 synapses
Many reflexes are everyday actions e,g digestion, keeping us upright
What are the different types of muscle
Skeletal
Cardiac
Involuntary
Skeletal muscle function and structure
Function - responsible for movement
Structure:
Cross striations
Muscles are tubular and multi-nucleated
Conscious control
Regularly arranged so muscle contracts in 1 direction
Rapid contraction speed
Short length of contraction