B10 The human nervous system

Question 1

central nervous system (CNS)

Answer 1

the part of the nervous system where information is processed. It is made up of the brain and spinal cord

Question 2

cerebral cortex

Answer 2

region of the brain associated with consciousness, memory, and language

Question 3

cerebellum

Answer 3

region of the brain concerned with coordinating muscular activity and balance

Question 4

ciliary muscles

Answer 4

muscles that contract and relax to change the shape of the lens of the eye

Question 5

coordination centres

Answer 5

areas that receive and process information from receptors

Question 6

effectors

Answer 6

areas (usually muscles or glands) that bring about responses in the body

Question 7

homeostasis

Answer 7

the regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism to maintain optimum conditions for function, in response to internal and external changes

Question 8

hyperopia

Answer 8

long sightedness, where the rays of light from distant objects can be focused clearly on the retina but the rays of light from close objects are not focused and the objects appear blurred

Question 9

medulla

Answer 9

region of the brain concerned with unconscious activities such as controlling the heart rate and breathing rate

Question 10

motor neurones

Answer 10

carry impulses from the central nervous system to the effector organs

Question 11

myopia

Answer 11

short sightedness, where the rays of light from close objects are brought into focus on the retina but distant objects appear blurred as the light is focused in front of the retina

Question 12

nerve

Answer 12

bundle of hundreds or even thousands of neurones

Question 13

neurones

Answer 13

basic cells of the nervous system that carry minute electrical impulses around the body

Question 14

receptors

Answer 14

cells that detect stimuli – changes in the internal or external environment

Question 15

reflex arcs

Answer 15

bring about a reflex action. They involve the sense organ, sensory neurone, relay neurone and motor neurone

Question 16

reflexes

Answer 16

rapid automatic responses of the nervous system that do not involve conscious thought

Question 17

sensory neurone

Answer 17

neurone that carries impulses from the sensory organs to the central nervous system

Question 18

stimuli

Answer 18

changes in the external or internal environment that can be detected by receptors

Question 19

suspensory ligaments

Answer 19

the ligaments that connect the lens of the eye to the ciliary muscles