B5 Flashcards
what does the nervous system allow us to do
allows us to react to our surroundings and co-ordinate actions in response to stimuli
what is a stimuli
a change in the environment
describe what happens in response to a stimuli
- receptor cells convert a stimulus into an electrical impulse
- the electrical impulse travel along cells called sensory neurones to the CNS
- the information is processed and the appropriate response is coordinated resulting in an electrical impulse being sent along motor neurones to effectors
- the effectors carry out the response
what are receptor cells
cells that detect the stimulus
what do sensory neurones detect
- change in temperature
- level CO2 in blood
what is a sensory neurone
neurones that carries impulses from the sensory organs to the CNS
name two examples of an effector
muscles or glands
what is an effector
areas that bring about responses in the body
what is a reflex arc
the pathway of information from a sensory neurone through an inter neurone to a motor neurone
what is a reflex/reflex action
rapid automatic response of the nervous system that do not involve a conscious thought
describe a reflex arc
- stimulus is detected by the receptors
- impulses are sent along a sensory neurone
- in the CNS the impulse passes to a relay neurone
- impulses are sent along a motor neurone
- the impulse reaches an effector resulting in the appropriate response
give an example of reflex arcs
- pupils getting smaller to avoid damage from bright light
- moving your hand from a hot surface to prevent damage
what are synapses
gaps between two neurones
how is information passed from one neurone to another
chemicals released from a neurone, they diffuse across the synapse
what is a reaction time
how long it takes you to respond to a stimulus
what is the CNS made up of
brain and spinal chord
what does the hypothalamus do
regulate body temperature and send signals to the pituitary gland
what does the cerebral cortex do
control consciousness, intelligence, memory, language, senses
where is the cerebral cortex found
outer part of the brain, split into two hemispheres
what does the cerebellum do
control fine movement of muscles and balance
where is the cerebellum
rounded structure near the bottom/back of the brain
what does the medulla do
control unconscious actions such as breathing and heart rate
where is the medulla found
in the brain stem in front of the cerebellum
why is investigating brain function and treating brain damage and disease difficult
- the brain is complex and delicate
- the brain is easily damaged
- drugs given to treat diseases cannot always reach the brain due to the membranes that surround it.
- not fully understood which part of the brain does what
how can neuroscientists map out the regions of brains
- studying patients with brain damage
- electrically stimulating different parts of the brain
- using MRI scanning techniques such as CT, PET, MRI
what is accommodation
the process of changing the shape of the lens to focus on near or distant object
what is the retina
a layer of light sensitive cells found at the back of the eye
what is the process of accommodation to focus on a distant object
- ciliary muscles relax
- the suspensory ligaments loosen
- the lens then becomes thinner - light is refracted less
what do the suspensory ligaments do
control the shape of the lens
what do the ciliary muscles do
hold the lens in place
what can the lens do
can change its shape
what does the pupil do
its a gap that allows light to pass through it to the lens
what does the optic nerve do
carries the impulses from the retina to the brain to create an image