B9 (all) Flashcards
Describe a nerve impulse
an electrical signal that passes along nerve cells called neurones
Describe the human nervous system
It consists of:
- the central nervous system (CNS) which has the brain and spinal cord
- the peripheral nervous system
- sense organs and effectors, to coordinate and regulate body functions
voluntary and involuntary actions
voluntary actions require a conscious decision to be made
involuntary actions don’t involve conscious decisions so are much faster and produce the same response
Identify from diagrams:
1. motor (effector)
2. relay (connector)
3. sensory neurones
see diagrams in textbook or notebook!
Describe a simple reflex arc
the pathway taken by electrical impulses as they travel along neurones.
describe the reflex arc of someone stepping on a pin
- stimulus: stepping on a pin
- impulse starts at the receptor
- impulse is passed along the sensory neurone
- impulse is passed along the relay neurone
- impulse is passed along the motor neurone
- effector receives impulses to react
- response: lift foot away
basically: stimulus –> receptor –> sensory neurone –> relay neurone in CNS –> motor neurone –> effector –> response
Describe a reflex action
a means of automatically and rapidly INTERGRATING AND COORDINATING STIMULI with the responses of effectors (muscles and glands)
what is a stimulus
a change in conditions
what does a receptor do?
it recognizes the stimulus for a response to occur
what does an effector do?
it carries out the response
what are sensory neurons?
they link sense organs to the CNS
what are relay/connector neurons?
they are short neurons within the CNS
what are motor/effector neurons?
they connect the CNS to an effector such as a muscle
Identify the structures of the eye:
- cornea
- iris
- pupil
- lens
- retina
- optic nerve
- ciliary muscles
- suspensory ligaments
- blind spot
see the diagram and memorize it!!
Describe the function of the cornea
it refracts light
Describe the function of the iris
it controls how much light enters pupil