MODULE 1 COMMUNICATION Flashcards
DEFINE STIMULUS
change in the environment that causes a response
DEFINE RESPONSE
change in behavior or physiology as a result of a stimulus
WHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS ENZYMES NEED TO WORK EFFICIENTLY
- suitable temp
- suitable pH
- aqueos environment to keep products and substrates in solution
- free from toxins and excess inhibitors
WHAT ARE THE TWO MAJOR SYSTEMS OF COMMUNICATION AND HOW DO THEY WORK
- neuronal system; interconnected network of neurons that signal to each other across synapse junctions for quick responses
- hormonal system; signals transported in the blood released by endocrine organ and only recognised by specific target cells; long term responses
DEFINE HOMEOSTASIS
keeping internal environment constant despite external changes
DEFINE NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
process that reverses a change in conditions and ensures a constant internal environment; essential for homeostasis
WHAT ARE EFFECTOR CELLS
cells that bring about a response that reverses a change detected by receptor cells
DEFINE POSITIVE FEEDBACK
process that increases change detected by receptors which is usually harmful and not useful for homeostasis
WHAT IS A POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK (HINT PREGNANCY)
when a woman is in labour and the cervix begins to stretch recognised by anterior pituitary gland- releases oxytocin and cervix stretches more- more oxytocin
DEFINE ECTOTHERM
organism that relies on external sources of heat to regulate its body temperature
WHAT ARE SOME ADVANTAGES TO BEING AN ECTOTHERM
- less food in respiration
- go long periods without food as they need less of it
- greater proportion of energy from food can be used to grow
WHAT ARE SOME DISADVANTAGES TO BEING AN ECTOTHERM
- less active in the cold so more risk of predation i.e lizards
- may not be active in winter so must have sufficient food stores to survive
WHAT ARE SOME ADVANTAGES TO BEING AN ENDOTHERM
- fairly constant body temp despite external temp
- activity possible during cooler weather
WHAT ARE SOME DISADVANTAGES TO BEING AN ENDOTHERM
- more energy from food used for heat
- more food
WHAT MONITORS BLOOD TEMP AND CORE TEMP
thermoregulatory centre in hypothalamus
WHAT IS AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM FOR TEMP CHANGE
peripheral temperature receptors in the skin monitor temp in extremities send signals to hypothalamus in order to initiate behavioural mechanisms
WHAT IS A SENSORY RECEPTOR
cells that realise change in our surroundings; energy transducer converts one form on energy into another, each one adapted to detect changes in particular forms of energy
DEFINE A POLARISED MEMBRANE
one that has a potential difference across it; resting potential
DEFINE DEPOLARISATION
the loss of polarisation across a membrane; when the sodium ions are entering cell making it less negative with respect to the outside
HOW IS A NERVE IMPULSE CREATED
altering permeability of the nerve cell membrane to sodium ions; more na channels open sodium allowed to move down concentration gradient which creates a change in potential difference (depolarisation)
WHAT IS THE NORM OF SODIUM AND POTTASIUM IONS AT RESTING POTENTIAL
more na ions out than k ions in
DEFINE GENERATOR POTENTIAL
small depolarisation caused by a small amount of na ions entering the cell (depends on size of stimulus recieved by receptors)