Homeostasis and response Flashcards
What is homeostasis
the regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism to maintain optimum conditions for function in response to internal and external changes
What does homeostasis control
- Blood glucose concentration
- Body temperature
- Water levels
Five things that co ordinate a response
Stimulus
Receptor
Coordinator
Effector
Response
What are the various structures in a reflex arc, in order
Stimuli - Receptor - Sensory neurone - Relay neurone - motor neurone - effector
Why are reflex actions useful
They are automatic and rapid, they don’t involve the conscious part of the brain
Plan an investigation into the effect of a factor on human reaction time (6 marks)
- Person A holds out their hand with a gap between their thumb and first finger
- Person B holds the ruler with the zero at the top of the person A’s thumb
- Person b drops the ruler at a random time, and person A must catch it
- The number level with the top of person A’s thumb is recorded, repeat 10 times and calculate a mean
- Swap places and repeat
- Convert ruler measurements into reaction time
What does the cerebral cortex do
Controls consciousness, intelligence, memory and language; it is the outer part of the brain
What does the cerebellum do
Controls fine movement of muscles, and balance. Its a rounded structure at the back of the brain
What does the medulla do
Controls unconscious actions such as breathing and heart rate, found in the brain stem in front of cerebellum
Why is investigating the brain difficult
- It is easily damaged
- It’s complex and difficult
- Drugs may not reach the brain because of the membranes that surround it
How can neuroscientists map out the brain (3 ways)
- Study patients with brain damage, damaged area corresponds to what part of body it controls
- Electrically stimulate different parts of the brain with electrode, may result in physical or mental change
- Use MRI to create image of brain, showing what part is affected by a tumour, or which part is active during specific action
What are the eyes functions
- Accommodation to focus on near or distant objects
- Adaptation to dim light
What is the retina
Layer of light sensitive cells found at the back of the eye.
When light hits this the cells are stimulated, impulses are sent to the brain which interprets the information to make an image
What is the optic nerve
A nerve that leaves the eye and leads to the brain
Carries impulses from retina to brain to create an image.
What is the sclera
The strong, white outer layer which supports the structures inside the eye
What is the cornea
The see-through layer at the front of the eye. It allows light through and curved surface bends most of the light
What is the iris
The muscles that surround the pupil
What do the suspensory ligaments and ciliary muscles do
Hold the lens in place and control its shape
What happens to the iris in bright light
Radial muscles relax
Circular muscles contract
Making the pupil smaller
What happens to the iris in dim light
Circular muscles relax
Radial muscles contract
Making the pupil dilated
The process of accommodation on a near object
- Ciliary muscles contract
- Suspensory ligaments relax
- Lens is thicker and more curved, refracting light more
The process of accommodation on a distant object
- Ciliary muscles relax
- Suspensory ligaments contract
- The lens is thinner so less light is refracted
What is myopia
Short sightedness
When light cannot focus on the retina as the lens is too curved.
So distant objects appear blurry
What is hyperopia
Long sightedness
- Light cannot focus on the retina as the lens is too flat, so cannot refract light enough
- So close objects appear blurry
What are the 4 treatments to hyper and myopia
- Spectacle lenses
- Contact lenses
- Laser eye surgery
- Replacement lens
What does the thermoregulatory centre do
Monitors and controls body temperature
Where are the receptors for the thermoregulatory centre
- In the skin
- Receptors that measure temp of the blood
Changes body makes when temp is too high
- Vasodilation, more blood closer to the surface so more energy is transferred from the body
- Sweating, heat evaporates from skin so more energy is transferred from the body
Changes body makes when temp is too low
- Sweating stops
- Skeletal muscles contract rapidly to generate heat from respiration
- Hairs stand on end to create insulating layer of warm air
- Vasoconstriction means blood does not flow close to the surface, so less heat is lost
What is the pituitary gland
- Master gland
- Secretes hormones into the blood to either have an effect on the body or act on other glands to stimulate them to produce different hormones
What does the pancreas do
- Secretes insulin
- Controls blood glucose levels
What does the thyroid do
- Secretes thyroxine
- Controls metabolic rate, heart rate and temperature
What does the adrenal gland do
- Secretes adrenaline
- Involved in ‘fight or flight’ response