Biospychology- structure and function of neurons

Question 1

What are neurons?

Answer 1

Nerve cells which are part of the nervous system 80% of neurons are located in the brain. They transmit signals into ways: electrically and chemically.

Question 2

What are the five things making up a neuron?

Answer 2

Cell body-include a nucleus containing genetic material.
Dendrites-Carrying nerve impulses from the neighbouring neurons towards the cell body.
Axon-carries impulses away from the cell body down to the length of of the neuron.
Myelin sheath-Protect the axon and speed up electrical transmission is segmented by gaps called nodes of ranvier These speed up transmission by forcing it to jump across the gaps along the Axon.

Question 3

What are the three different types of neuron?

Answer 3

Sensory (afferent).
Motor (efferent).
Inter neuron (relay).

Question 4

What is the role of a sensory neuron?

Answer 4

These new runs take sensory information from the environment and sends the signal to the brain.

Question 5

What is the world of a motor neuron?

Answer 5

These neurons communicate information from the brain to tissues and organs throughout the body allowing for movement.

Question 6

What is the role of an interneuron?

Answer 6

These new ones make up the majority of neurons in the body. They are essentially the middleman transmitting information between sensory and motor neurons. They pay a key role in learning memory and planning.

Question 7

What is the structure of a sensory neuron?

Answer 7

• they have long dendrites and short axons.
• They are new ones in the central nervous system they convert a specific type of stimulus via their receptors into action potentials.
  -The cell bodies are located in the spinal cord.

Question 8

What are the five stages of a reflex arc?

Answer 8

1. Stimulus detection.
2. Sensory neuron activation.
3. Relay neuron.
4. Motor neuron activation.
5. Effective response.

Question 9

What is the stimulus detection phase of the reflex arc?

Answer 9

A sensory receptor detector stimulus, for example, if you touch something hot thermoreceptors in your skin detect the heat.

Question 10

What is the sensory neuron activation stage of the reflex arc?

Answer 10

The sensory receptor sends an electrical impulse along a sensory neuron towards the central nervous system.

Question 11

What is the relay neuron phase of the reflex arc?

Answer 11

In the spinal cord, the impulse reaches an integration centre. This is usually a synapse between the sensory neuron and motor neuron or an interneuron which then relays the signal.

Question 12

What is the motor neuron activation phase of the reflex arc?

Answer 12

The impulse is transmitted to a motor neuron. The motor neuron carries the signal away from the CNS to the effector.

Question 13

What is the effective response phase of the reflex arc?

Answer 13

The effect of which is usually a muscle or gland produces a response for instance in the hot object scenario the factor would be the muscle in your arm causing you to withdraw your hand quickly.

Question 14

What is the structure of a motor neuron?

Answer 14

• They have short dendrite and long axons
• They take messages from the CNS to effectors such as muscles and glands.
  -The cell body is located in the spinal cord

Question 15

What is the structure of a relay neuron?

Answer 15

• They have short dendrite and short axons
• they connect the sensory neurons to the neurons or other relay neurons.
• They allow communication between other neurons.