The Nervous System Flashcards

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1
Q

What does the nervous system allow the body to do?

A

The nervous system allows the body to respond, through effectors, to changes in the environment detected by receptors. The process involves neurones and is usually coordinated by the brain.

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2
Q

What is a neurone?

A

A neurone is a nerve cell that consists of a cell body with thin fibres stretching out from it. The fibres carry electrical impulses.

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3
Q

What are receptors?

A

Receptors are groups of specialised cells. They can detect changes in the environment, which are called stimuli, and turn them into electrical impulses.

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4
Q

Where are receptors located?

A

Receptors are often located in the sense organs, such as the ear, eye and skin. Each organ has receptors sensitive to particular kinds of stimulus.

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5
Q

What is skin sensitive to?

A

Touch, pressure, pain and temperature.

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6
Q

What is the tongue sensitive to?

A

Chemicals in food.

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7
Q

What is the nose sensitive to?

A

Chemicals in the air,

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8
Q

What are eyes sensitive to?

A

Light.

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9
Q

What are ears sensitive to?

A

Sound and position of the head.

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10
Q

What happens when a receptor is stimulated?

A

The central nervous system (CNS) in humans consists of the brain and spinal cord. When a receptor is stimulated, it sends a signal along the nerve cells - neurones - to the brain. The brain then co-ordinates the response.

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11
Q

What is an effector?

A

An effector is any part of the body that produces a response.

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12
Q

What are some examples of effectors?

A
  • A muscle contracting to move the arm

- A muscle squeezing saliva from the salivary gland - A gland releasing a hormone into the blood.

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13
Q

What do sensory neurones do?

A

Sensory neurones carry signals from receptors to the spinal cord and brain.

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14
Q

What do relay neurones do?

A

Relay neurones carry messages from one part of the CNS to another

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15
Q

What do motor neurones do?

A

Motor neurones carry signals from the CNS to effectors.

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16
Q

What is the axon?

A

The fibre that carries electrical impulses from the cell body to the dendrites is called the axon.

17
Q

What is the dendron?

A

The fibre that carries electrical impulses t the cell body is called the dendron.

18
Q

What is the myelin sheath?

A

The myelin sheath is the fatty layer surrounding the axon.

19
Q

What is the similarity between a motor and a sensory neurone?

A

They both have a cell body and fine branches called dendrites.

20
Q

What is the difference between a motor and a sensory neurone?

A

Motor neruones have very long axons, where as sensory neurones have short ones.

21
Q

What is a synapse?

A

Where two neurones meet, there is a tiny gap called a synapse. Signals cross this gap using chemicals released by a neurone. The chemical diffuses across the gap makes the next neurone transmit an electrical signal.

22
Q

What is a reflex action?

A

When a receptor is stimulated, it sends a signal to the central nervous system, where the brain co-ordinates the response. But sometimes a very quick response is needed, one that does not need the involvement of the brain. This is a reflex action.

23
Q

What happens in a reflex action?

A

Receptor detects a stimulus - change in the environment, sensory neurone sends signal to relay neurone, motor neurone sends signal to effector
and the effector produces a response.

24
Q

What happens in bright lights to our eyes?

A
  • Radial muscles of the iris relax.
  • Circular muscles of the iris contract.
  • Less light enters the eye through the contracted pupil.
25
Q

What happens in dim lights to our eyes?

A
  • Radial muscles of the iris contract.
  • Circular muscles of the iris relax.
  • More light enters the eye through the dilated pupil.
26
Q

What is a reflex response?

A

The involuntary behaviour of the person pulling their foot away after stepping on a pin.

27
Q

What is a reflex arc?

A

A reflex response is brought about by a chain of nerves which is called a reflex arc.

28
Q

What is the order of stages in a reflex arc?

A

Receptor - sensory neurone - relay neurone - motor neurone - effector.