biology

Question 1

What is the nervous system?

Answer 1

The Nervous System is the communication network that controls and coordinates the functioning of the body. Receptors detect a stimulus and pass it onto control centres which initiate a message to the effectors, which cause a response.

Question 2

What are the nerves and neurons?

Answer 2

The basic unit of the nervous system is a nerve cell or neuron. Each neuron has a large cell body that connects to a long thin axon, which is also known as a nerve fibre. They pass messages around using electrical signals.

Question 3

cell body

Answer 3

Contains the nucleus (nucleus = CONTROL CENTRE OF NEURON)

Question 4

dendrites

Answer 4

branch out from the cell body

Receive messages from other neurons or receptors

Question 5

axon

Answer 5

Nerve fibres that send nerve impulses away from the cell body to other dendrites

Question 6

Myelin sheath

Answer 6

he fatty insulating layer that helps speed up nerve impulses

Question 7

Axon Terminal:

Answer 7

found at the end of a neuron, release chemicals which carry the message to the next neuron

Question 8

What are the 3 types of Neurons? and explain

Answer 8

Sensory Neurons:
These neurons tell the rest of the brain about the external and internal going-on
Motor Neurons:
Carries messages from the CNS to muscle cells in the body.
Interneurons:
Sends two messages: one to the brain and one to the muscles via motor neurons

Question 9

What’s the central Nervous System?

Answer 9

The Central Nervous System (CNS) is the control centre of the body and is composed of the brain and spinal cord. All incoming messages from your environment and your responses to them are processed through the Central Nervous System:

Question 10

What’s the Peripheral Nervous System?

Answer 10

The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) carries information to and from the Central Nervous System to the rest of the body, it is composed of all nerves outside the CNS. The Peripheral Nervous System is divided into two parts, the Somatic Nervous System and the Autonomic Nervous System.

Question 11

Somatic Nervous System:

Answer 11

The Somatic Nervous System controls voluntary skeletal muscle movements, such as waving or reaching to take an object. It is part of the peripheral nervous system associated with the voluntary control of body movements via skeletal muscles. It collects information from sensory organs (e.g skin, eyes, ears, smell, taste) It coordinates messages from the brain to voluntary skeletal muscles.

Question 12

Autonomic Nervous System:

Answer 12

The Autonomic Nervous System controls involuntary actions, which happen without conscious control. This includes heartbeat, digestion, respiration, salivation and perspiration. It is composed of two parts, sympathetic and parasympathetic, which work together to maintain homeostasis (balance) in the body (internal environment within an organism).

Question 13

Sympathetic Nervous System:

Answer 13

Sympathetic is the fight, freeze or flight mode. It speeds up heart rate, slows down digestion and is used for action.

Question 14

Parasympathetic Nervous System:

Answer 14

Parasympathetic is rest and digest mode. It conserves and restores, slows heart rate decreases respiratory rate, stimulates digestion, removes waste and stores energy.

Question 15

Responding to stimulus

Answer 15

Stimulus - the change in the environment
Receptor - detects the change
Sensory Neuron - takes the information into the CNS
Interneuron - processes information (spinal cord)
Motor Neuron - away from CNS into muscles
Effector (muscles) cause a response/reaction
Response - the reaction you have as a result of the stimulus

Question 16

Reflex arc:

Answer 16

An involuntary and instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus.
Sensory neurons carry messages from receptor to spinal cord.
Interneuron sends two messages: one to the brain and one to the muscles via a motor neuron

Question 17

Receptors:

Answer 17

Sensory cells translating chemical, electromagnetic and mechanical stimuli

Question 18

Endocrine Systems

Answer 18

A collection of glands that make and release hormones to communicate information to different parts of the body.

Question 19

Endocrine Gland:

Answer 19

A structure in the body that responds to the stimulus by secreting hormones.

Question 20

Hormone:

Answer 20

A chemical message that is secreted by a gland and travels via the bloodstream.

Question 21

Parts of the Brain:

Answer 21

• Frontal lobe: deals with emotions, reasoning, movement and problem solving
• Parietal lobe: Manages the perception of Senses
• Temporal lobe: deals with the recognition of sounds and smells
• Occipital lobe: responsible for vision

Question 22

Cerebellum:

Answer 22

responsible for movement, balance and coordination

Question 23

Brain stem:

Answer 23

connects the brain to the spinal cord and contains the medulla oblongata.

• Medulla oblongata: controls automatic functions such as breathing and digestion.
• Pons: assists in automatic functions such as breathing, sleep and arousal.

Question 24

Midbrain:

Answer 24

contains areas that receive and process sensory information, such as a movement and vision.

Question 25

Thalamus:

Answer 25

processes and carries messages for sensory information to the cortex.

Question 26

Hypothalamus

Answer 26

links the nervous system to the endocrine system.

Question 27

Pituitary Gland

Answer 27

controls other glands and body growth “ master gland”

Question 28

Thyroid Gland

Answer 28

controls the rate of food into energy “metabolism”

Question 29

Pancreas

Answer 29

Controls the body’s use of glucose

produces insulin (hormone) that controls the body’s use of glucose ( low to high)

produces glucagon ( hormone) that gets glucose levels from high to low to homeostasis level (average)

Question 30

Homeostasis:

Answer 30

Define: The process of regulating the internal conditions of the body is called homeostasis. Your body works to maintain constant levels of important nutrients, water and temperature in order to stay healthy.