Nervous System Flashcards
What does the nervous system enable humans to do?
React to their surrounding and coordinate their behaviour
What are receptors?
Cells that detect stimuli (changes in the environment)
What are receptors in the eye sensitive to?
Light
What are receptors in the ears sensitive to?
Sound, changes in position
What are receptors on the tongue and in the nose sensitive to?
Chemicals that enable us to taste and smell
What are receptors in the skin sensitive to?
Touch, pressure, pain, and temperature changes
How do receptors sensitive to changes in position help us?
They enable us to keep our balance
What is in a light receptor cell?
Nucleus, cytoplasm, cell membrane
How does information from receptors get to the brain?
It travels along neurones
What does the brain do with the message?
It coordinates a response
What are reflex actions?
Automatic and rapid
Which neurones do reflex actions involve?
Sensory, relay, motor
In a reflex action, what do impulses from the receptor pass along to get to the central nervous system?
Sensory neurone
In a reflex action, what happens at a synapse?
A chemical is released that causes the impulse to be sent to the next neurone
What route does the message take from the central nervous system to the effector?
Along a motor neurone
