B1.6 Nervous System and Hormones - The neurone and synapses

Question 1

Nervous system

Answer 1

The network of nerve cells and fibres that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the bod

Question 2

Neurones

Answer 2

Basic cells of the nervous system that carry electrical impulses around the body

Question 3

Electrical impulses

Answer 3

The impulses or signals that are carried by neurones

Question 4

Receptors

Answer 4

Special structures that allow living organisms to sense the conditions of their internal or external environment

Question 5

Sensory neurone

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Motor neurone

Answer 6

A neurone that sends impulses from the CNS to an effector

Question 7

Association neurone

Answer 7

A short type of neurone that is involved in reflex actions and is found in the spinal cord

Question 8

Synapse

Answer 8

A junction or gap between neurones where information in chemical form is transmitted from one neurone to the next

Question 9

Neurotransmitter

Answer 9

A chemical that is released from the ends of an active neurone and diffuses across the synapse to other neurones

Question 10

Purpose of synapse

Answer 10

Breaks up the electrical response so that a stimulus can be processed correctly leading to an appropriate response, also allows specificity so that one neurone can pass a signal to another, otherwise many neurones would fire at once and have a maladaptive response

Question 11

Cell body

Answer 11

Largest part of a typical neuron, contains the nucleus and much of the cytoplasm, also contains many mitochondria for energy