B10 The Human Nervous System Flashcards
What is homeostasis?
The regulation of the internal conditions of cells to maintain optimum conditions for functioning, in response to internal and external changes.
What are some internal conditions that are controlled?
Body temperature
The water content of the body
Blood glucose concentration
What are receptors?
Cells that detect changes in the internal or external environment. These changes are known as stimuli. Receptors may be part of the nervous or hormonal control systems of the body.
What are coordination centres?
Areas that receive and process the information from receptors. They send out signals and coordinate the reponse of the body. These include the brain, spinal cord and other organs such as the pancreas.
What are effectors?
Muscles or glands that bring about responses to the stimulus that has been received. These responses restore conditions in the body to the optimum levels.
What does the central nervous system consist of?
Brain and spinal cord
What does The Peripheral Nervous System consist of?
A vast network of nerves that carry (electrical) impulses between the CNS and the rest of the body.
What are all the nerves made up of?
Bundles of tiny nerve cells called neurons.
What is a stimulus?
Any change in your environment.
What are some examples of Stimulus’?
Sound, Touch, Chemicals in food, Smell
What is a neuron?
A specialised cell that carries electrical messages (impulses) around the body.
What is a synapse?
Name given to the gap between neurons.
Electrical impulses cannot cross these gaps.
Instead one neurone releases chemicals called neurotransmitters, into the gap
The chemical diffuses accross the gap and binds to receptors there making the next neurone transmit an electric signal.
