Chapter 3 - The Nervous System

Question 1

How are signals sent through the nervous system?

Answer 1

Via a series of neurons, which are connected by synapses.

Question 2

What kind of signal travels down a neuron?

Answer 2

Electrical

Question 3

What kind of signal travels over a synapse?

Answer 3

Chemical

Question 4

Considering the way signals are sent aroud it, what kind of system is the nervous system?

Answer 4

Electrochemical.

Question 5

What are the functions of neurons and synapses?

Answer 5

To connect sensory receptors to the central nervous system

To connect 1 part of the nervous system to another

To carry signals from the nervous system to organs or muscles.

Question 6

How do neurons carry a signal?

Answer 6

When stimulated they transmit an electrical impulse.

Question 7

What is an action potential?

Answer 7

An electrical impulse

Question 8

What is the sensory threshold?

Answer 8

A threshold where any stimulus below that threshold will not be noticed.

If the threshold is raised then a person will be less sensitive to stimulus.

This threshold will reset over time.

Question 9

What is Habituation?

Answer 9

The decrease in physiological response as the result of repeated exposure to a stimulus.

Question 10

What does the endocrine system use to send signals around the body?

Answer 10

Hormone secretion into the bloodstream, which is controlled by neuronal signals.

Question 11

Considering the way signals are sent in the endocrine system, what kind of system is it?

Answer 11

A neuro-hormonal system.

Question 12

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the endocrine system regarding sending signals to the body?

Answer 12

Disadvantage:

It takes longer for signals to reach recpetors.

Advantages:

Many cells can recieve signals simultaneously.

Plays imprtant rols in homeostasis.

Question 13

What is the peripheral nervous system and how is it subdivided?

Answer 13

The nerve trunks outside of the CNS.

Question 14

What is the responsiblity of the somatic nervous system within the PNS?

Answer 14

Volunary movement and concious senses.

Question 15

What is the responsibility of the enteric nervous system as part of the PNS?

Answer 15

Control of the gut.

Question 16

What is the responsibility of the autonomic nervous system as part of the PNS.

Answer 16

Operation of internal organs and control of blood supply.

It is further divided into Sympathetic and Parasympathetic divisions.

Question 17

What is the role of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomin nervous sytem in the PNS?

Answer 17

Sympathetic - prepares body for action, eg. increases heart rate

Parasympathetic - restores the body, eg decreases heart rate.

Question 18

What are the primary components of the central nervous system and what is it’s function?

Answer 18

The brain and the spinal cord.

To analyse sensory data.

Question 19

Where is vision information processed?

Answer 19

In the visual cortex.

Question 20

What are the physical components of the peripheral nervous system and what do they do?

Answer 20

Sensory nerves - pass sensory information to the CNS

Motor nerves - shortcut information directly to organs and muscles and are responsible for relexes.

Question 21

Where are proprioreceptors found and what do they do?

Answer 21

They are found in muscles and they detect and relay precise information regarding the motion and position of body parts.

Question 22

Where are mechanoreceptors found and what do they do?

Answer 22

The are foud in tendons and they send precise information regarding the tension on muscles and therefore are used to control the amount of force on body parts.