Homeostasis and Response Flashcards
What does homeostasis do?
Homeostasis maintains optimal conditions for enzyme action and all
cell functions.
What things does homeostasis control in the human body?
- blood glucose concentration
- body temperature
- water levels
What things does the control system include?
- cells called receptors, which detect stimuli (changes in the environment).
- coordination centres (such as the brain, spinal cord and pancreas) that receive and process information from receptors.
- effectors, muscles or glands, which bring about responses which restore optimum levels.
- This mechanism is also called negative feedback.
What does the nervous system enable people to do?
The nervous system enables humans to react to their surroundings and to coordinate their behaviour.
How does information reach the CNS?
Information from receptors passes along cells (neurones) as electrical impulses to the central nervous system (CNS).
What is the CNS?
The CNS is the brain and spinal cord.
What does the CNS do?
The CNS coordinates the response of
effectors which may be muscles contracting or glands secreting
hormones.
What is the order of the CNS?
Stimulus-receptor-coordinator-effector-response.
What are reflex actions?
Reflex actions are automatic and rapid; they do not involve the conscious part of the brain.
What is process of a reflex action?
1) The pain of the stimulus is detected by receptors
2) Impulses from the receptor pass along a sensory neurone to the CNS.
3) An impulse then passes through a relay neurone.
4) A motor neurone carries an impulse to the effector.
5) The effector(usually a muscle) responds e.g. to withdraw a limb away from the source of pain.
What is the name of the gaps between the neurones?
Synapse
How do the neurones communicate with each other?
When an electric impulse reaches a synapse, a chemical is released that diffuses across the gap between the two neurones. This causes an electric impulse to be generated in the second neurone.
What is the sample method of the reaction time experiment?
1) The experimenter holds a metre ruler vertically from the end.
2) The subject has their finger and thumb a small distance apart, either side of the ruler, on the 50cm line.
3) The experimenter lets go of the ruler and the subject has to trap it.
4) The distance the ruler travels from the 50cm line is noted.
5) The experiment is repeated on subjects that have just drunk coffee or cola and subjects that have not.
What are the different variables in the reaction time experiment?
*Independent variable= Whether the subject has coffee or not.
*Dependent variable= The distance the ruler travels
*Control variable= The age, sex and mass of the subjects.
What is the endocrine system composed of and what do they do?
The endocrine system is composed of glands which secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream.
What does the blood do in the endocrine system and how is this different to the nervous system?
The endocrine system is composed of glands which secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream.
What are the main glands that produce hormones in the body?
- pituitary gland
- pancreas
- thyroid
- adrenal gland
- ovary
- testes.
What does the pituitary gland do?
*The pituitary gland in the brain is a ‘master gland’ which secretes several hormones into the blood in response to body conditions.
*These hormones in turn act on other glands to stimulate other hormones to be released to bring about effects.
What is the blood glucose concentration monitored by?
Blood glucose concentration is monitored and controlled by the
pancreas.
What happens if the blood concentration is too high?
*If the blood glucose concentration is too high, the pancreas produces the hormone insulin that causes glucose to move from the blood into the cells.
*In liver and muscle cells excess glucose is
converted to glycogen for storage.