homeostasis Flashcards
(109 cards)
what is homeostasis
regulation of internal conditions of a cell/organism to maintain optimum conditions in responses to internal and external changes
three examples of internal conditions in humans
keep:
blood glucose concentration
body temperature
water levels
constant
features of automatic control system
receptor cells
coordination centre
effector
what do receptor cells do
detect stimulus/changes in environment (internal and external)
passes information to coordination centre
what does coordination centre do
receives and processes info from receptor cells
sends instructions to effector
what does effector do
muscle or gland that restores optimum level by carrying out response
two parts of nervous system
cns - brain and spinal chord
other nerves running to and fro cns
describe how nervous system works
receptors detect stimulus
sends electrical impulses down neurones to cns (coordination centre)
cns sends electrical impulses down neurones to effector
effectors are usually..
contracting muscles or hormone-secreting glands
how does reflex arc work
• receptor detects stimulus
• sends electrical impulses along sensory neurone to cns
• end of sensory neurone: synapse which releases chemical that passes impulse to relay neurone
• end of relay neurone: synapse releases chemical that passes impulse to motor neurone
• end of motor neurone: effector
• effector carries response
how to investigate reaction time
• p1 sits upright on stool and rests arm on table, dominant hand overhanging
• p2 holds ruler vertically, with 0cm at thumb level
• p2 drops at random time, p1 catches quick as possible
• record measurement at top of thumb
• repeat 5x and calculate mean. convert to reaction times using online conversion table
independent variable of investigating reaction time
drink caffeine and repeat experiment
dominant hand & non dominant hand
what does the brain do
controls our complex behaviours
what is the outer brain called and what does it do
cerebral cortex
responsible for language, memory, consciousness, and intelligence
what is the bit at the back of the brain called and what does it do
cerebellum
controls muscle coordination e.g movements and balance
what is the bit in the middle of the brain and what does it do
medulla
controls unconscious activity e.g breathing and heart rate
why are brain problems difficult to study
skull makes access difficult
extremely complex structures
delicate and easy to damage
three methods to study brain
- study patients with brain damage. by knowing where damage is, they can try to link that area to its function
- electrically stimulate it. do this to different parts of brain and look at effects on behaviour
- mri scans. allows us to look at which parts of brain are most active during activities
what stimulates receptors in eye
changes in light intensity and colour
what does cornea do
transparent front of eye. it refracts light rays into eye
what does lens do
focuses light rays to the back of the eye
ciliary muscles and suspensory ligaments can change shape to lens to focus on near/distant objects
what does the retina do
back of the eye - contains receptor cells for light intensity & colour, then send electrical impulses
what does the optic nerve do
carries impulses from retina receptors to brain
what does the sclera do
white part - tough, protective layer