Biopsychology

Question 1

what is the endocrine system

Answer 1

• works alongside the nervous system
• slower than the nervous system
• uses blood vessels to deliver hormones to their target sites in the body
• has a slightly delayed response and is long lasting
• main function is to maintain homeostatis

Question 2

what are hormones

Answer 2

chemicals that circulate in the blood stream and are carried to target sites throughout the body

Question 3

what do hormones affect

Answer 3

their target organs and cells

Question 4

why is the timing of hormone release critical for normal functioning

Answer 4

too much or too little at the wrong time can result in dysfunction of bodily systems

Question 5

what is feedback

Answer 5

regulate our hormones

Question 6

how do glands and hormones work

Answer 6

hypothalamus sends signal to pituitary gland in the from of a ‘releasing hormone’ causing the pituitary to secrete a ‘stimulating hormone’ into the bloodstream, this then signals the target gland to secrete its hormone. these hormones can directly cause changes in physiological processes in the body or stimulate other glands to produce other hormones
as levels of this hormone increases in the bloodstream, the hypothalamus stop secreting the releasing hormone and the pituitary gland shuts down the secretion of the stimulating hormone

Question 7

the brain

Answer 7

contains a sensitive centre called the hypothalamus which controls the pituitary gland

Question 8

thyroid gland

Answer 8

produces thyroxine, which controls the rate of metabolism

Question 9

adrenal glands

Answer 9

produces adrenaline which prepares the body for rapid action by increasing heart rate and level of sugar in blood and diverting blood to muscles and brain

Question 10

pancreas

Answer 10

produces insulin which controls blood sugar level

Question 11

testes

Answer 11

produces testosterone which causes the changes at puberty and stimulates sperm production

Question 12

ovary

Answer 12

produces oestrogen which causes changes at puberty and helps control the menstrual cycle

Question 13

pituitary

Answer 13

• master gland
• some hormones released are important for regulating the endocrine system
• anterior pituitary gland secretes luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) which stimulate ovaries to produce progesterone and oestrogen
• anterior pituitary gland secretes LH and FSH which stimulate the testes to produce testosterone and sperm
• posterior pituitary releases oxytocin, which stimulates the uterus to contract during labour and also plays a role in bonding

Question 14

thymus

Answer 14

part of immune system and functioning. produces several hormones e.g. thymosin

Question 15

pineal

Answer 15

produces melatonin, which may help regulate the wake-sleep cycle

Question 16

what is the nervous system

Answer 16

complex network of nerve cells that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to different parts of the body
helps to coordinate different organ and cells in the body
subdivided into the central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system

Question 17

the central nervous system

Answer 17

consists of brain and spinal cord, where all the complex processing of information is done and decisions are made

Question 18

the peripheral nervous system

Answer 18

brings information from the senses to the CNS and transmit info from the CNS to the muscles and glands

Question 19

the brain

Answer 19

centre of awareness, it is divided into 2 hemispheres, cortex is more developed in humans than in all other animals
- receives info from sensory receptors and sends messages to muscle glands in the body

Question 20

the spinal cord

Answer 20

extension of the brain. transports messages to and from the brain to the peripheral nervous system
also responsible for reflexes

Question 21

what does your peripheral nervous system consist of

Answer 21

all other nerves which are not part of the CNS
they relay info via nerve impulses (electrical signal) from the rest of the body back to the CNS
divided further into 2 parts: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system

Question 22

somatic nervous system

Answer 22

• non more sub divisions
• picks external info from our senses
• includes both sensory and motor pathways
• voluntary under our conscious control
• controls skeletal muscles

Question 23

autonomic nervous system

Answer 23

• has two sub divisions
• only contains motor pathways
• deals with internal info
• maintains homeostasis
• involuntary, don’t have to think
• control of smooth muscles such as heart, kidney, lungs etc

Question 24

what is the sympathetic nervous system involved in

Answer 24

fight or flight response- helps us deal with any threat our brain

Question 25

what is the parasympathetic nervous system involved in

Answer 25

rest and digest, back to normal resting levels

Question 26

what is involved in the sympathomedullary pathway SAM

Answer 26

hypothalamus
sympathetic ganglia
adrenal medulla

Question 27

what is the SAM pathway

Answer 27

• amygdala sends distress signal to hypothalamus
  hypothalamus sends 2 simultaneous signals down 2 different pathways
• sent as an electrical signal; unaware going via sympathetic ganglia then stimulates the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline for fight or flight

Question 28

when is it a fight or flight response

Answer 28

when adrenaline is released, triggers sympathetic activity
- increases heart rate, increasing blood flow and pressure increasing blood to the brain and skeletal muscles for skeletal response

Question 29

what does blood to muscles do

Answer 29

better physical response, run quicker

Question 30

<what does blood to brain do

Answer 30

quick decision