The nervous system

Question 1

What is the purpose of the nervous system?

Answer 1

• The nervous is used for the different parts of the body to communicate with eachother
• This is needed to coordinate behaviour and respond to the surroundings

Question 2

What is the purpose of a neuron and how is it adapted for this?

Answer 2

• A neuron is used to carry electrical impulses from one point to another
• It is adapted as it is long, thin and has many branched connections on both ends which allows it to pass impulses on to other neurons

Question 3

What is a synapse?

Answer 3

• The small gap between the end of one neuron and the start of another

Question 4

How do neurons communicate with eachother?

Answer 4

• When an electrical impulse reaches the end of a neuron, it releases chemical that diffuse across the synapse and trigger another electrical impulse in a new neuron

Question 5

What is the CNS?

Answer 5

• The CNS is part of the nervous system
• It consists of the brain and the spinal cord
• It takes in sensory information and sends out instructions to the rest of the body

Question 6

What is a sensory neuron?

Answer 6

• Carries information from receptors to the CNS

Question 7

What is a motor neuron?

Answer 7

• Carries information from the CNS to effectors

Question 8

What is a reflex action?

Answer 8

• Automatic response to a stimuli

Question 9

What is a reflex arc?

Answer 9

• The nerve pathway that is followed by a reflex action

Question 10

What is the reflex arc pathway that is followed (orders of neurons)?

Answer 10

• Stimuli > receptor> sensory neuron > relay neuron > motor neuron > effector > response

Question 11

What is a relay neuron?

Answer 11

• The neuron inside the CNS that connects the sensory and motor neuron