jordans homeostasis Flashcards
What is homeostasis?
The regulation of the internal conditions of the body to maintain optimum conditions for functioning, in response to internal and external changes.
Why is it important for the body to stay at a fairly constant temperature?
So that enzymes in the body, that catalyse metabolic reactions, can work at their optimum.
What is the role of a receptor?
Detecting changes in the internal or external environment (stimuli).
What is the role of coordination centres?
Receiving and processing information from receptors, then sending signals to coordinate the response of the body.
What is the role of the effectors?
Muscles or glands that bring about responses to the stimuli, restoring conditions of the body to their optimum.
What are examples of receptors?
- Taste buds
- Retinas (light receptors)
- Pain receptors
What are examples of coordination centres?
- The brain
- The spinal cord
- The pancreas
How does the nervous system pathway work?
Stimulus –> receptor –> central nervous system –> effector.
What is a reflex?
An involuntary, automatic response to a stimulus.
What is the steps in the reflex arc?
Stimulus –> receptor –> sensory neurone –> relay neurone –> motor neurone –> effector –> response.
What is a synapse?
Junctions (physical gaps) between neurones.
How do electrical impulses travel across synapses?
A neurotransmitter chemical diffuses across the synapse gap, setting up a new electrical impulse at the next neurone.
What is the function of the cerebral cortex?
Controls consciousness, intelligence, memory and language.
What is the function of the cerebellum?
Muscle coordination and balance.
What is the function of the medulla?
Controls unconscious activities, like the regulation of the heartbeat and breathing.
What parts of the body is the central nervous system (CNS) made up of?
The brain and spinal cord.
What is the role of the CNS?
It coordinates the response of effectors.
How can scientists discover more about the brain?
- Electrically stimulating different parts of the brain
- MRI scans
- Studying people with brain damage
Why are issues with the brain difficult to investigate and deal with?
- It is easy to cause unintended damage
- It is not fully understood what each part of the brain does
- Drugs do not always reach the brain
What is the function of the sclera?
To protect the eyeball from damage.
What is the function of the cornea?
It lets light into the eye, and changes the direction of the light rays coming into the eye.
What is the function of the iris?
Regulating the amount of light entering the eye by controlling the size of the pupil.
What is the function of the retina?
To detect light and send signals to the optic nerve.
What is the function of the optic nerve?
Sending signals from the retina to the brain to create an image that we can see.