homeostasis (new) Flashcards
define homeostasis
Homeostasis is the regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism to maintain optimum conditions for function in response to internal and external changes.
State the purpose of Homeostasis
Homeostasis maintains optimal conditions for enzyme action and all cell functions.
What type of response is involved in automatic control systems?
These automatic control systems may involve nervous responses or chemical responses.
What do all control systems include?
All control systems 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.
State the purpose of the nervous system.
The nervous system enables humans to react to their surroundings and to coordinate their behaviour.
Where is information passed in the nervous system?
Information from receptors passes along cells (neurones) as electrical impulses to the central nervous system (CNS).
How does the central nervous system coordinate the response of effectors?
The CNS coordinates the response of effectors which may be muscles contracting or glands secreting hormones.
Recall the reflex arc.
Stimulus –> receptor –> coordinator –> effector –> response
Recall the 3 types of neurones found in the reflex arc.
Sensory neurone, Relay neurone and Motor neurone.
what are reflex actions.
Reflex actions are automatic and rapid; they do not involve the conscious part of the brain.
Describe the function of the brain.
The brain controls complex behaviour. It is made of billions of interconnected neurones and has different regions that carry out different functions.
What have neuroscientists so far achieved?
Neuroscientists have been able to map the regions of the brain to particular functions by studying patients with brain damage, electrically stimulating different parts of the brain and using MRI scanning techniques.
Why is the brain difficult to study?
The complexity and delicacy of the brain makes investigating and treating brain disorders very difficult.
what is the eye.
The eye is a sense organ containing receptors sensitive to light intensity and colour.
Define Accommodation
Accommodation is the process of changing the shape of the lens to focus on near or distant objects.
Describe the actions of the eye when it focuses on a near object.
To focus on a near object: * the ciliary muscles contract * the suspensory ligaments loosen * the lens is then thicker and refracts light rays strongly.
Describe the actions of the eye when it focuses on a distant object.
To focus on a distant object: * the ciliary muscles relax * the suspensory ligaments are pulled tight * the lens is then pulled thin and only slightly refracts light rays.
sclera
the tough white supporting wall of the eye
cornea
transparent outer layer at the front of the eye that refracts light
pupil
hole at center of eye where light enters
iris
contains muscles that allow it to control the diameter of the pupil affecting how much light can enter
(circular and radial muscles)
retina
layer at back of eye that contains both types light receptor cells (light intensity and colour)
lens
focuses light on the retina
cilliary muscles and suspensory ligaments
control the shape of the lens
optic nerve
carries carries impulses from receptors on the retina to the brain
Explain the 2 common defects of the eye.
Two common defects of the eyes are myopia (short sightedness) and hyperopia (long sightedness) in which rays of light do not focus on the retina.
How are defects of the eye treated?
Generally these defects are treated with spectacle lenses which refract the light rays so that they do focus on the retina.
How are defects of the eye treated using new technology?
New technologies now include hard and soft contact lenses, laser surgery to change the shape of the cornea and a replacement lens in the eye.