B5: Synapses And Reflexes

Question 1

Explain the function of reflexes.

Answer 1

Reflexes help to prevent injury; rapid automatic responses to certain stimuli that don’t involved the conscious part of the brain.

Reflexes bypass the brain, taking the shortages route - making it involuntary.

Question 2

Explain the process of reflexes.

Answer 2

Pain sensor
Sensory neurones
Spinal cord
Motor neurone
Synapse formed in muscle

Question 3

What is the connection between two neurones called?

Answer 3

A synapse.

Question 4

How does a synapse work?

Answer 4

1) an electrical current travels across and axon
2) this triggers the nerve ending of a neutron to release chemical messengers called neurotransmitters
3) these chemicals diffuse across the synapse and bind with receptor molecules in the membrane of the next neurone
4) the receptor molecules on the second neurone bind only to the specific chemicals released from the first neurone. This stimulates the second neurone to transmit the electrical current

Question 5

Give two examples of reflexes.

Answer 5

If someone shines a bright light in your eyes, your pupils automatically get smaller so let that light gets into the eye - this stops it from getting damaged

If you get a school, your body releases the hormone Adrenalin automatically - it doesn’t wait for you to decide if you’re shocked.

Question 6

What is the passage of information in a reflex called? (From receptor to effector)

Answer 6

A reflex arc.