Nervous coordination and muscles - Yr 2 Flashcards
CNS
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
Pairs of nerves that originate from either the brain or spinal cord to the rest of the body. Divided into the sensory and motor nervous system.
Neurone
Specialised cells adapted to rapidly carrying electrochemical changes called nerve impulses from one part of the body to another eg sensory, motor and intermediate
Sensory neurons
Neurones which carry nerve impulses from receptors towards the CNS (an intermediate or motor neurone)
Motor neurons
Neurones which carry nerve impulses away from CNS (an intermediate or relay neurone) to an effector
Intermediate or relay neurons
A neurone which is a co-ordinator which transmit impulses between neurons, for example, from the sensory neurone to the motor neurone in the spinal cord.
Stimulus
A detectable change in the internal or external environment of an organism
Response
The result of a stimulus on an organism
Receptor
A cell or organ which detects a stimulus
Effector
A cell, tissue, organ or system which responds to a stimulus
Coordinator
The link between a sensory neurone and motor neurone in the spinal cord
Reflex arc
Pathway of neurones involved in a reflex: Stimulus receptor sensory neurone intermediate (relay) neurone motor neurone effector response.
Somatic/Voluntary Nervous System
A division of the motor nervous system which carries nerve impulses to body muscles and is under voluntary (conscious) control
Autonomic
A division of the motor nervous system which carries nerve impulses to glands, smooth and cardiac muscle and is not under voluntary control (subconscious)
Sympathetic
An autonomic pathway which stimulates effectors and so speeds up an activity
Parasympathetic
An autonomic pathway which inhibits effectors and so slows down an activity (parachute…)
Pacinian corpuscle
A sensory receptor which responds to change in mechanical pressure
Stretch-mediated Na+ channels
A special type of sodium channel which is found at the sensory neurone ending at the centre of the Pacinian corpuscle. Their permeability to sodium changes when they are deformed by stretching.
Photoreceptors
Light receptor cells of the mammalian eye found on the innermost layer, the retina. Two types: rod and cone cells. They act as transducers by conserving light energy into the electrical energy of a nerve impulse.
Retina
The innermost layer of the mammalian eye containing photoreceptors.
Rod cells
Cells in the retina which transduce light energy into a generator potential, based on intensity of light received. They respond to low-intensity light and give low visual acuity. Absent in the fovea.
Cone cells
Cells in the retina which transduce light energy into a generator potential, based on wavelength of light received. There are three different types, each responding to a different range of wavelength of light. Mainly concentrated in the fovea. Not sensitive to low-intensity light but give good visual acuity.
Retinal convergence
Many rods connected to one bipolar cell
Visual acuity
Ability to resolve fine detail
Visual sensitivity
Ability to detect low light intensity
Fovea
The point receives the highest intensity of light because light is focused by the lens on the part of the retina opposite the pupil. Cone cells are found here.
Blind spot
The point of entry of the optic nerve on the retina which is insensitive to light.
Optic nerve
Nerve which transmits impulses to the brain from the retina at the back of the eye
Nerve impulse
A self-propagating wave of electrical disturbance theta travels along the surface of an axon membrane
Na+ K+ Pump
A carrier protein which actively transports 2 potassium ions into the axon and 3 sodium ions out of the axon.
Resting potential
A potential difference of -65mV found inside a resting neurone relative to its outside, which results in the axon being polarised.
Generator potential
A nervous impulse produced by a sensory receptor following transduction (or conversion) of one form of energy into electrical energy
Threshold value
The minimum level of stimulus needed to trigger an action potential
Action potential
A temporary reversal of the charges across the axon membrane which increase from -65mV to +40mV, depolarising the membrane
Polarised
Condition used to describe the axon when the inside of an axon is negatively charged relative to the outside (at the resting potential usually around 65mV). This is established because sodium ions are actively transported out of the axon and potassium ions actively transported into the axon by the sodium-potassium pump. The outward movement of sodium ions is greater than inward movement of potassium ions which means there are more sodium ions in the tissue fluid surrounding the axon than in the cytoplasm and more potassium ions in the cytoplasm than in the tissue fluid which creates an electrochemical gradient. Most of the gates in the channels that allow the potassium ions to diffuse back out of the axon are open, while most of the gates in the channels that allow sodium ions to diffuse back into the axon are closed.
Voltage gated channels
Channels in the axon membrane which change shape, and hence open or close, depending on the voltage across the membrane.
Depolarised
Condition used to describe the part of the axon membrane when the inside of the membrane has a positive charge of around +40mV (when an action potential is happening). This occurs because of a stimulus which causes some sodium voltage-gated channels in the axon membrane opening and sodium ions diffusing into the axon along their electrochemical gradient. More sodium channels open, causing an even greater influx of sodium ions by diffusion.
Hyperpolarisation
When the inside of the axon is more negative (relative to the outside) than the usual. Caused because voltage-gated potassium channels open and the electrical gradient that prevented further outward movement of potassium ions is now reversed causing more potassium ion channels to open. The outward diffusion of these potassium ions causes a temporary overshoot of the electrical gradient.
Repolarisation
When the resting potential of -65mV is re-established the axon is described as this. This happens because the closable gates on the potassium ion channels now close and the activities of the sodium-potassium pumps once again cause sodium ions to be pumped out and potassium ions in.
Refractory period
Time period after an action potential when it is impossible for a further action potential to be generated because inward movement of sodium ions is prevented because the sodium voltage-gated channels are closed. Means that impulses are propagated in one direction only, allows discrete impulses and limits the number of action potentials.