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Biology > Coordination and Response > Flashcards

Coordination and Response Flashcards

1
Q

Def. Stimulus

A

A change in environment.

A receptor can detect this change in the environment and send this message to the CNS (Central Nervous System) to coordinate a response

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2
Q

What are the CNS and the PNS?

A

Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems

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3
Q

What is the purpose of a receptor?

A

To detect a change in the environment, a stimulus, and send this message to the CNS to coordinate a response

All of this is done to stay alive

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4
Q

What are the receptors and what do they detect changes in?

A
  • Skin - Pressure & Temperature
  • Ear - Sound (Vibrations)
  • Nose - Chemicals
  • Tongue - Chemicals
  • Eye - Light
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5
Q

What are the 3 different types of neuron?

A
  • Sensory
  • Relay
  • Motor
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6
Q

What is the purpose of sensory neurons?

A

They detect changes in stimuli and send an impulse through the axon to the CNS

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7
Q

What is the purpose of relay neurons?

A

They redirect impulses for sensory neurons to motor neurons, coordinating a response

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8
Q

What is the purpose of motor neurons?

A

They send impulses from the CNS to other parts of the body, and causes an effector, e.g. muscle to contract or relax, or e.g. a gland to release a chemical.

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9
Q

Describe what happens in synapses

A
  • Neurons do not touch each other – there is a tiny gap between one neuron and the next in a neural pathway. These gaps are called synapses.
  • Nerve impulses cannot cross these synapses: information is passed from one neuron to the next using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.
  • When an impulse arrives at the end of the neuron, the chemical messenger is released into the synapse.
  • This chemical messenger diffuses across the synapse.
  • On the other side of the synapse, the neurotransmitter binds with a receptor molecule on the membrane of the other neuron. As the neurotransmitter binds to the receptor it released a new nerve impulse in the postsynaptic neurone.
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10
Q

What is a relfex?

A

An involuntary reaction to a change in stimulus

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11
Q

What is the use of a reflex?

A

Reflexes are designed to allow you to respond to a potentially dangerous situation very quickly. As there is no time to think, the brain does not need to be involved. These actions are still coordinated by the CNS, but maybe by the spinal cord, instead.

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12
Q

What are the parts of a neurone cell?

A
  • Dendrite
  • Nucleus
  • Cell body
  • Axon
  • Myelin sheath
  • Node of Ranvier
  • Schwann cell
  • Axon terminal
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13
Q

What are the adaptations of the neuron cell?

A
  • Long
  • Branched endings to pick up impulses
  • Insulated by sheaths
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14
Q

What are the parts of the eye?

(needed to know)

A
  • Cornea
  • Pupil
  • Iris
  • Lens
  • Optic nerve
  • Retina
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15
Q

What is the purpose of the liquid in the eye?

A

To mantain it’s shape

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16
Q

What is the structure of the front of the eye?

A
  • The very front of the eye is the Cornea which is transparent and lets rays of light enter the eye
  • Hole in the Iris (coloured) behind the cornea is called the Pupil
  • Iris controls the amount of light that enters the eye
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17
Q

What is the structure of the middle of the eye?

A
  • Behind the cornea is a fluid called Aqueous Humour and this sits in front of the lens (held in place by ligaments)
  • The lens is transparent and helps to focus light rays that enter the eye (muscle contraction)
  • Behind the lens is a jelly liquid called Vitreous Humour which helps prevent reflection of light rays from internal walls of the eye
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18
Q

What is the structure of the back of the eye?

A
  • A layer of light sensitive cells called the Retina lie towards the back of the eye
  • Two types of cell in the retina are Rod and Cone cells
  • Neurones from rods and cones connect to Optic Nerve which links eye to CNS
  • At the base of optic nerve is Blind Spot (no receptor cells)
  • A region on retina (Fovea) enables the eye to see in particularly good colour and detail because it is filled with only cones
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19
Q

What do Rod and Cone cells do?

A
  • Rods detect black and white (and only need low light intensity)
  • Cones detect colour (and need high light intensity to function froperly)
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20
Q

What types of muscles is the Iris Composed of?

A

An antagonistic pair - Circular and Radial Muscles

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21
Q

What happens to the Iris in strong light?

A

A reflex causes the circular muscles contract and the radial muscles relax, allowing the Iris to make the pupil smaller, so to prevent eye damage from excess light.

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22
Q

What happens to the Iris in weak light?

A

A reflex causes the radial muscles contract and the circular muscles relax, allowing the Iris to make the pupil larger, so receptors can get more light and work better.

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23
Q

What is an effector?

A

A cell/group of cells at the end of a motor neuron, usually a muscle, that acts according to the electrical impulses

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24
Q

How is light focussed into the eye?

A
  • The cornea is the part of the eye that light passes through
  • It is covered by a thin layer of cells called conjunctiva
  • Light rays are bent/refracted as they enter the eye
  • The lens also helps with focussing as it can change shape
  • Lens is suspended by ligaments attached to muscles (ciliary muscles)
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25
Q

What is the purpose of the lens?

A
  • The ciliary muscles contract and relax to help the lense adjust shape, and its shape helps adjust the focussing of light onto the retina
  • When it is thin and flat, it focuses more distant objects on to the retina
  • When it is fat and curved, it focusses closer objects on to the retina
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26
Q

What happens to the lens when you look at an object far away from a closer one?

A
  • Ciliary muscles relax
  • Tension on ligaments increases (pull tightly)
  • Lense pulled flatter and thinner
27
Q

What happens to the lens when you look at a close object from a distant one?

A
  • Ciliary muscles contract (smaller diameter in muscle)
  • Ligaments become slack
  • Lense springs back to fatter
28
Q

What are the Hormones we have to know?

A
  • Testosterone
  • Oestrogen
  • ADH
  • LH
  • FSH
  • Insulin
  • Progesterone
29
Q

Where is Testosterone produced, and what is it’s purpose?

A

Produced in Testes of males and Travels in blood all over the body. It’s purpose is secondary sexual development such as
- Increases muscle mass
- Increases hair growth
- Voice deepens

Testosterone can be dangerous in high amounts

30
Q

Where is Oestrogen produced, and what is it’s purpose?

A

Released from ovary
- Enables the uterus lining to become thick to accept fertilised egg
- Prevents further eggs being produced

Oestrogen can be used in oral contraceptives due to this

31
Q

Where is ADH produced, and what is it’s purpose?

A

Released from Pituitary Gland in the brain, travels in blood to kidney.

It controls water levels in blood by controlling permeability of collecting ducts in kidneys

32
Q

Where is Progesterone produced, and what is it’s purpose?

A

Released from ovary
- Triggers and maintains a thick uterus lining
- Enables the maintenance of pregnancy

33
Q

Where is Insulin produced, and what is it’s purpose?

Also talk about Glucagon

A

Produced in Pancreas, which is just below the stomach. The Pancreas controls the levels of glucose in the blood

Insulin is released when blood glucose is high
- Insulin travels in blood to liver
- Liver removes excess glucose from blood and stores it as glycogen

Glucagon is released when blood sugar is low
- Glucagon travels in blood to liver
- Liver converts stored glycogen to glucose

34
Q

Where are LH and LSH produced, and what are their purposes?

A

They are produced in the Pituitary Gland, and are involved in the menstrual cycle

35
Q

In which ways are Hormones different from Impulses?

A
  • Signals are electrical Impulses
  • Carried along specific neurons to specific site so only a single cell or organ affected
    Carried from sensory neurons in sense organs along neurones to relay neurons in the CNS and then back to motor neurons in the muscle
  • Fast response

vs

  • Carried in Blood
  • Produced by endocrine glands
  • Long term effects are possible
36
Q

Def. Homeostasis

A

The maintenance of a constant internal environment e.g. water, glucose, temperature & pH

37
Q

Compare the Nervous System with the Endocrine System

This is a recap

A

Nervous System
- Signals are electrical Impulses
- Transmitted by electrical impulses in neurones and the CNS
- Carried along specific neurons to specific sites so only a single cell or organ affected
- Carried from receptors in sense organs along neurones to relay neurons in the CNS and then back to the effectors in the sense organ
- Fast response
- Short-term effects only

Endocrine Sysem
- Signals are controlled by hormones (chemicals) in the blood
- Carried in Blood
- Specific hormones are distributed to the entire body via the circulatory system, affects multiple specific organs around the body
- Produced by endocrine glands
- Slower response
- Long-term effects possible

38
Q

What is Thermoregulation?

A

The control of body temperature

This is done as a two degree difference can cause enzymes to denature, which can be fatal

39
Q

What temperature receptors are available to the body?

A
  • In the brain (Hypothalamus) receptors detect a change in temperature when the blood flows through the brain, allowing it to react and mantain a constant internal temperature
  • There are also temperature receptors in the skin which send signals to the brain
40
Q

How does the body react if you are too hot?

A
  • Sweating – water leaves the body through sweat glands and sits on the surface of the skin. It evaporates and removes heat from the skin so has a cooling effect
  • Vasodilation – blood vessels (arterioles) get WIDER so more blood flows closer to the surface of the skin. Heat is lost by conduction.
  • Body hairs flatten - so cool air circulates close to skin
41
Q

How does the body react if you are too cold?

A
  • Hair Rising – hair muscles in skin contract and lift the hairs up. This traps a layer of air close to the surface of the skin and insulates the skin
  • Vasoconstriction – blood vessels (arterioles) get NARROWER so less blood flows close to the surface of the skin. Heat remains in the blood
  • Shivering – increased muscle contractions that generate heat that is carried around the body in the blood
  • Insulation – layer of fatty tissue beneath the skin provides insulation and prevents heat loss from radiation
  • Reducing Sweat - sweat would evaporate and cause the body to cool down
42
Q

Desrcibe the structure of human skin

A
  • Hairs
  • Epidermis
  • Temperature receptors
  • Blood vessel
  • Hair erector muscle
  • Root of hair
  • Sweat duct/gland
  • Adipose tissue
43
Q

Explain the principle of a negative feedback mechanism

A
  1. A change in the internal environment is detected
  2. A response by the body corrects this change to bring it back to normal
44
Q

Describe the negative feedback response that occurs if internal body temperature increases

A
  1. The increase in temperature is detected by receptors in the brain
  2. A reaction is coordinated by the Hypothamalus, in the brain
  3. Steps are taken to decrease body temperature e.g.
    - Sweating
    - Flattening hair
    - Vasodilation

The temperature returns to 36.5 - 37.5 degrees celcius

45
Q

Describe the negative feedback response that occurs if internal body temperature decreases

A
  1. The decrease in temperature is detected by receptors in the brain
  2. A reaction is coordinated by the Hypothamalus, in the brain
  3. Steps are taken to increase body temperature e.g.
    - Stopping sweat
    - Erecting hair
    - Vasoconstriction
    - Shivering

The temperature returns to 36.5 - 37.5 degrees celcius

46
Q

What is glucoregulation?

A

The control of gluscose elevels in the body

High glucose levels can be fatal, but htere must be a enough for respiration throughout the body

47
Q

Which organ detects glucose levels?

A

Pancreas

48
Q

What is the purpose of the pancreas in Glucoregulation?

A

Glucose levels are detected by the pancreas, which releases insulin & glycogen to mantain glucose levels.

49
Q

Describe the negative feedback response when glucose levels get too high

A
  • The increase is detected by receptors in the pancreas
  • The pancreas ireleases insulin
  • The insulin travels to the liver where glucose is converted to glycogen and stored
  • Blood glucose levels return to normal
50
Q

Describe the negative feedback response when glucose levels get too low

A
  • The decrease is detected by receptors in the pancreas
  • The pancreas releases Glucagon
  • The Glucagon travels to the liver where glycogen is converted back to glucose and used in respiration
  • Blood glucose levels return to normal
51
Q

Why is glucose converted to glycogen rather than kept as gluucose inside the cells?

A
  • Glucose would diffuse out of the cells
  • Glucose would be used up in respiration
  • Converting the glucose reduces the solute concentration and increases the water potential, so that exess water does not enter the cell and cause lysis
52
Q

How is an involuntary reaction different from a voluntary reaction?

A
  • Involuntary responses are automatic - they require no concious decision
  • Involuntary reactions are reflexes
  • These reactions are faster as the brain is not necessarily involved
  • They are normally for self-preservation
53
Q

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

A

When blood glucose concentration higher is than normal because the pancreas does not make enough insulin (autoimmmune disease, kills own insulin making cells)

High glucose concentrations can be dangerous

54
Q

What are the symptoms of diabetes?

A
  • Increased urine production which contains glucose to evacuate glucose from the body
  • Thirst due to the loss of water above, and attempt to dilute the blood, which would decrease glucose concentrations
  • Hunger due to interferences in energy production
55
Q

What are the long term consequences of diabetes?

A
  • Premature ageing
  • Cataracts
  • Hardening of arteries
  • Coronary Artery Disease (CHD)
56
Q

How is Type 1 Diabetes treated?

A

Regular Insulin injections

57
Q

What is type 2 Diabetes?

A
  • Cells become insulin resistant as they are too acustomed to it
  • Type II is Caused by diet of too much fat and sugar, which causes the pacnreas to release insulin too often
58
Q

Def. Tropism

A

Tropism is the growth or movement of a plant in response to an external stimulus

Tropism can be positive or negative

59
Q

Def. Phototropism

A

A response in which parts of a plant grow towards or away from the direction from which light is coming

60
Q

Def. Gravitropism

A

A response in which parts of a plant grow towards or away from gravity

61
Q

What type of tropism is shown by roots and shoots for gravitropism?

A

Roots - Positive Tropism

Shoots - Negative Tropism

62
Q

What type of tropism is shown by roots and shoots for phototropism?

A

Roots - Negative Tropism

Shoots - Positive Tropism

63
Q

Explain how the Auxin hormone works in plants

A
  1. Auxin is produced in the tip of the shoot
  2. It spreads through the plant from the shoot tip
  3. It is unequally distributed in response to light and gravity (e.g. away from light in shoots)
  4. Auxin stimulates cell elongation and causes one side of the shoot to elongate, causing the entire shoot to bend towards the light

Biology (21 decks)

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