B10 - The Human Nervous System Flashcards
What is the central nervous system?
The Central Nervous System (CNS) is the part of the nervous system where information is processed. It is made up of the brain and spinal cord
What is the cerebral cortex?
The region of the brain associated with consciousness, intelligence, memory, and language
What is the cerebellum?
The region of the brain concerned with coordinating muscular activity and balance
What are ciliary muscles?
Muscles that contract and relax to change the shape of the lens of the eye
What are coordination centres?
Areas that receive and process information from receptors. They send out signals and coordinate the response of the body
What are effectors?
Areas (usually muscles or glands) that bring about responses to the stimulus that has been received. These responses restore conditions in the body to the optimum level
What is homeostasis?
The regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism to maintain optimum conditions for function, in response to internal and external changes
What is the medulla?
The region of the brain concerned with unconscious activites such as controlling the heart, controlling of the gut, and breathing rate
What are motor neurones?
Motor neurones carry impulses from the central nervous system to the effector organs
What is a nerve?
A bundle of hundreds or even thousands of neurones
What are neurones?
Basic cells of the nervous system that carry minute electrical impulses around the body
What are receptors?
Cells that detect stimuli - changes in the internal or external environment
What is a reflex arc?
Brings about a reflex action. They involve the sense organ, sensory neurone, relay neurone, and motor neurone
What are reflexes?
Rapid automatic responses of the nervous system that do not involve conscious thought
What is a sensory neurone?
Neurone that carries impulses from the sensory organs to the central nervous system
What is stimuli?
Changes in the external or internal environment that can be detected by receptors
What are suspensory ligaments?
The ligaments that connect the lens of the eye to the ciliary muscles
What is the brain?
The brain processes information from sensory receptors all over your body and then sends out impulses along motor neurones that coordinate your responses to all the different situations you meet. The brain is made up of billions of interconnected neurones that form different regions. It controls complex behaviours
What are the different regions of the brain?
°Cerebral Cortex °Hypothalamus °Pituitary gland °Medulla °Cerebellum
What is the hypothalamus?
The area of the brain involved with monitoring and controlling body temperature
What is the pituitary gland?
He pituitary gland produces many different hormones which play a large part in controlling and coordinating body systems
How is the brain protected?
The brain is protected inside the bones of your skull, and is encased in protective membranes called the meninges
Why is it difficult to find out about the brain?
Because it is encased in the skull
How have scientists been able to find out about the brain?
°Studying people with brain damage
°Electrically stimulating brain areas
°MRI Scans