Biology - Topic 5 Homeostasis Flashcards
What is homeostasis
Maintaining a stable internal environment despite changing conditions
Why does the body need to maintain optimal conditions
For optimal enzyme action and cell function
What internal conditions need to be maintained
Body Temperature
Blood glucose levels
Water content
Describe the order of the control system
receptors ; coordination centre ; effector
What is the role of a receptor
detects changes in internal or external environment
What is the role of coordination centre
Interprets changes and organises a responce
Where are the coordination centres located in the body
Brain, spinal cord, pancreas
Name 2 type of effectors and state what they do
muscles contract when stimulated and glands release hormones
What system does homeostasis rely on and what does it mean
Homeostasis relies on a system of negative feedback, meaning whenever levels of something get too high they’re brought back down, and whenever the levels of something get to low, they’re brought back up.
what does an electrical impulse do
passes along nerve cells
what is a synapse
the gap between two neurones
What is released across a synapse
chemicals - the nerve signals are transferred by chemicals which diffuse across the gap
What is the CNS
Part of nervous system - in vertebrates this consist of the brain and spinal cord only. In mammals the CNS is connected to the body by sensory neurones and motor neurones
What is the role of a sensory neurone
transfer a signal from a receptor to the CNS
What is the role of a motor neurone
transfer a signal from the CNS to an effector
What is the role of a relay neurone
transfer a signal from a sensory neurone to a motor neurone
What is a reflex
Automatic response to a stimulus that don’t involve the conscious part of your brain
What is the pathway of a reflex arc
stimulus; receptor; sensory neurone; relay neurone; motor neurone; effector; responce
Why are reflexes important
they prevent injury
What is the brain made up of
billions of interconnected neurones
What is the role of the cerebral cortex
Responsible for things like consciousness intelligence, memory and language
What is the role of the cerebellum
Responsible for muscle coordination and balance
What is the role of the medulla
Controls unconscious activities such as breathing and heart rate
What is the role of the hypothalamus
regulates our body temperature
Where is the medulla found
in the brain stem
How do scientists study the brain
- Studying patients with brain damage - seeing what part was damaged and relaying this back to the effect it has on the patient
- Electrically stimulating the brain - by pushing a tiny electrode into the tissue and giving it a small zap of electricity scientists can see what specific parts do
- MRI scans - provides a very detailed picture of the brains structure
Why is treating the brain so difficult
there is a huge range of things that can go wrong
it is had to access as it is encased within the skull
it is very complicated so hard to target with medication
What is the cornea
transparent layer at front of the eye which refracts light
What is the optic nerve
carries impulses from the receptors on the retina to the brain
What is the pupil
the gap through the eye which light passes to reach the lens
what is the lens
focuses the light onto the retina
What are the two types of receptors called in the retina
Rod cells and Cone cells
what is the point where light focuses on the retina called
the fovea - this region contains the highest concentration of cone cells and gives the sharpest image
What is the purpose of the iris reflex
to ensure the optimum amount of light enters the eye
Which two muscles make up the iris
Circular and Radial muscles
When does the pupil constrict
When it is exposed to bright light the circular muscles in the iris contract and the radial muscles relax
What does FSH do
Stimulates ovaries to produce oestrogen and causes the eggs to mature
What does LH do
it stimulates the egg to be released
outline the process in which the nerve impulses are transmitted across the synapse
- The relay neurone releases a neurotransmitter
- The neurotransmitter diffuses across the synapse
- the neurotransmitter binds to second neurone
- the binding of the neurotransmitter causes an electrical impulse
What structures of the eye bend light that enters the eye
the lens and cornea
When light enters the eye where should the light be focused
the fovea on the retina
When looking at a nearby object what shape should the lens be
When looking at a nearby object the light from the object will hit the eye at a very wide angle so the lens must be short and fat to successfully refract the light
For the lens to become short and wide what must happen
the ciliary muscle contracts and the suspensory ligaments slacken
What happens to the ciliary muscle, suspensory ligaments, and the lens, when the eye focuses on a distant object?
The suspensory ligaments are pulled taut
Lens is pulled tall and thin
The ciliary muscle relaxes
What does long sighted mean
The eye is unable to focus on nearby objects
What is a solution to long-sightedness
To wear glasses that contain a convex lens
Where do the glands release the hormone
glands release hormones into the bloodstream. The hormones bind to specific cells that have the correct receptors
This will bring about some change within the cells
Describe the thyroid gland
Thyroid releases thyroxine. Thyroxine regulates metabolism such as heart rate. If the level of thyroxine in the blood is too low, the pituitary gland will release more thyroid stimulating hormone.
Describe the adrenal gland
Adrenal gland releases adrenaline. Adrenaline stimulates fight or flight response
Describe the pancreas in terms of insulin
The pancreas releases insulin. Insulin decreases blood sugar levels if they are too high.
What organ is testosterone released from
testes
What organ is oestrogen released from
ovaries
What does oestrogen and testosterone do
stimulates puberty and growth in female and males.