Biopsychology Flashcards
what are the two main functions of the nervous system
- collect, process and respond to information in the environment
- co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body
what does the CNS consist of
the brain and spinal cord
what is the function of the spinal cord
relay information between the brain and the rest of the body
what are the 4 lobes of the cerebrum
- frontal
- pariental
- occipital
- temporal
what is the role of the peripheral nervous system
- sends information to the CNS from the environment
- transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands
what is the peripheral nervous system subdivided into
- autonomic nervous system
- somatic nervous system
explain the somatic nervous system
controls voluntary muscle movement
explain the autonomic nervous system
controls involuntary vital functions such as heart rate
what is the autonomic nervous system subdivided into
- sympathetic nervous system
- parasympathetic nervous system
explain the role of the sympathetic nervous system
involved in reponses that help us deal with emergencies
(fight or flight)
explain the role of the paraysmpathetic nervous system
the bodys resting state
(rest and digest)
explain the changes the following organ has in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system:
- the heart
- sympathetic nervous system = increase in heart rate, increase blood flow to organs
- parasympathetic = resting heart rate
explain the changes the following organ has in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system:
- lungs
- sympathetic = increased breathing rate
- parasympathetic = resting breathing rate
explain the changes the following organ has in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system:
- pupils
- sympathetic = pupipls dilute
- parasympathetic = pupils normal
explain the changes the following organ has in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system:
- digestion
- sympathetic = reduction of non essential functions
- parasympathetic = digestion as normal
what is the function of the endocrine system
release hormomes from glands into the bloodstream which regulate the activity of cells and organs
define glands
organ in the body that produces hormones
explain what the thyriod gland releases and what this does
produces thyroxine which increases metabolic rate
explain what the adrenal gland releaes and what this does
releases adrenaline which triggers physiological changes in the body needed for fight or flight
explain the role of the pituitary gland
the master gland because it controls the release of hormones from all other glands
explain what the testes produce and what this does
produces testosterone which causes the development of male characteristics
SAM pathway
explain the bodys response to a stressful situation
- message is sent to the hypothalamus which triggers the sympathetic nervous system
- the sympathetic nevous system triggers the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline into the bloodstream
- adrenaline causes a number of pysiological changes in the body to prepare for fight or flight
explain what adrenaline is
a hormone produced by the adrenal glands which is a part of the human bodys imediate stress response
HPA axis
explain the bodys response to proloongues stress
- hypothalamus releases a hormone called CRH
- CRH causes the pituitary gland to produce and release ACTH
- ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol
- this gives a quick burst of energy and lowers sensitivity to pain
explain the function of the following structure in a neuron:
the cell body
includes a nucleus which contains genetic information
explain the function of the following structure in a neuron:
dendrites
banch like structures that come out of the nerve cell to connect with other neurons
explain the function of the following structure in a neuron:
the axon
carry nerve impulses away from the cell body
explain the function of the following structure in a neuron:
the myelin sheath
insulates and protects the axon from external influences
explain the function of the following structure in a neuron:
nodes of ranvier
gaps in the myelin sheath that force the impulse to “jump” accross the gaps
explain the function of the following structure in a neuron:
terminal buttons \ axon terminal
send impulses to the next neuron accross the synapse
what are the 3 different types of neurones
- sensory
- relay
- motor
describe the structure of the following neuron:
sensory
- long dendrites
- short axons
describe the structure of the following neuron:
relay
- short dendrites
- short axons
describe the structure of the following neuron:
motor
- short dendrites
- long axons
what is the function of the following neuron:
sensory
carry messages from the PNS to the CNS
what is the function of the following neuron:
relay
connect the sensory neurons to motor or other relay neurones
what is the function of the following neuron:
motor
relay information from the CNS to effectors
what is synaptic transmission
the process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other
what is an action potential
an action potential occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon, away from the cell body
explain the process of synaptic transmission
- when the electrical impulse reaches the end of the neuron (pre synaptic terminal) vesicles containing neurotransmitters bind with the pre synaptic membrane
- when they bind they release neurotransmitters from vesicles
- the neurotransmitters travel accross the synaptic cleft and attach to receptors on the post synaptic membrane
- the chemical message is then convertd back to an electrical impulse and the message continues
what are excitatory neurotransmitters
neurotransmitters that increase the likelihood that a neuron will fire
what are inhibitory neurotransmitters
neurotrasnmitters that decrease the likelihood that a neuron will fire
