Nervous and hormonal control (part 2) Flashcards
What is a stimulus?
Any change in the internal or external environment
What do receptors do?
Receptors detect stimuli – they can be cells or proteins on cell surface membranes
What do effectors do?
They bring about a response to a stimulus to produce an effect
Eg muscles cells
How do receptors communicate with effectors?
Via the nervous or hormonal system
How does the eye respond to dim light?
- Light receptors in the eyes detect a lack of light
- The CNS processes information
- The radial muscles in the iris are stimulated by the motor neurones
- The radial muscles contract to dilate the pupils
How does the eye respond to bright light?
- Light receptors in the eyes detect bright light
- The CNS processes the information
- The circular muscles in the iris are stimulated by the motor neurones
- The circular muscles contract to constrict the pupils
What is the hormonal system comprised of?
Glands and hormones
What is a gland?
A group of cells that are specialised to secrete a useful substance such as a hormone
Eg the pancreas secretes insulin
What is a hormone?
A ‘chemical messenger’ – many are proteins or peptides but some are steroids
When are hormones secreted?
When a gland is stimulated
How can glands be stimulated x2
- By a change in concentration of a substance eg another hormone
- Electrical impulses
Describe how hormones trigger a response in target cells (use blood glucose):
- Receptors on pancreas cells detect low blood glucose concentration
- The pancreas releases the hormone glucagon into the blood
- Target cells in the liver detect glucagon and convert glycogen into glucose
- Glucose is released into the blood so glucose concentration increase
Differences between nervous and hormonal system x4:
- Nervous uses electrical impulses, hormonal uses chemicals
- Nervous has a faster response, hormonal has a slower response
- Nervous has a localised response, hormonal has a widespread response
- Nervous has a short-lived response, hormonal has a long-lived response
Nervous system: What are photoreceptors?
Light receptors in the eye
What part of the eye controls the amount of light entering?
The muscles of the iris
What part of the eye contains photoreceptors?
The retina
Which part of the retina has an abundance of photoreceptors?
The fovea
Name the two types of photoreceptors:
Rods and cones