Nervous System Flashcards
What does the nervous system allow animals to do
Detect changes in environment and produce a response to increase chances of survival
How is information sent in the nervous system
In the form of electrical impulses along specialised cells called neurones
What is a stimulus
A change in the internal or external environment e.g temperature, light, chemicals
What is a receptor
Specialised cells which detect changes in the environment (stimulus) - can be found in the sense organs
What is an effector
Specialised cells found in muscle and glands which bring about a response. Muscles contract, glands secrete
What is the central nervous system (CNS)
Consists of the brain and spinal cord, coordinates the response
What is the sensory neurone
Carries electrical impulses from they receptor to the CNS
What is the motor neurone
Carries electrical impulses from the CNS to the effector
What is the relay neurone
Carries electrical impulses from the sensory to the motor neurone
What is the synapse
The gap between 2 neurones
How do the electrical impulses travel across the synapse
The electrical impulse arrives at one neurone causing chemicals called neurotransmitters to be released. They diffuse across the synapse, setting off an electrical impulse in the next neurone
