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Biology > The Nervous System > Flashcards

The Nervous System Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is stimulus?

A

This is the change in the environment that an organism responds or reacts to.

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2
Q

What are 5 examples of a stimulus?

A

Light
Temperature
Texture
Chemical in air
moisture

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3
Q

What is a response?

A

This is the change in the organism because of the stimuli.

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4
Q

Why is response to stimuli important to an organism?

A

It is important for the organism’s survival

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5
Q

What are receptors?

A

This is a part of an organism that detects the stimulus.

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6
Q

What are effectors?

A

This is a part of an organism that responds to the stimulus.

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7
Q

Give five examples of receptors

A

These are sense organs :
Eyes
Ears
Nose
Tongue
Skin

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8
Q

Give two examples of effectors

A

Muscles and glands

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9
Q

How does the eye respond to stimulus?

A

At the back of the eye is the retina which is a layer of sensory cells (rod and cone cells) that responds to light. Impulses are sent from these cells to the brain through the optic nerve so that changes in shape, color, brightness and distance are detected.

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10
Q

How does the ear respond to stimulus?

A

Sensitive hairs in the inner ear respond to vibrations in the air( sound waves) . Impulses are sent from these hairs to the brain by the auditory nerve so that changes in the tone, pitch, quality and loudness can be detected.

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11
Q

How does the nose respond to stimulus?

A

As air flows in the nose during breathing, chemical molecules in it touch sensitive hairs. These send messages to the brain to detect changes in scent.

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12
Q

How does the tongue respond to stimulus?

A

Groups of receptor cells called taste buds, responds to chemicals in the food. Different parts of the tongue are sensitive to different flavors like salt, sugar, bitter, sour. These send messages to the brain to detect the changes in flavor of the food.

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13
Q

How does the skin respond to stimulus?

A

The skin is the largest organ in the body.
Nerves ending as sensory cells are scattered throughout the skin. These are sensitive to pain , touch, change in temperature, light pressure and heavy pressure. They send impulses to the brain to detect what has been touched.

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14
Q

What does the nervous system do?Give examples

A

It controls the body.
Example: thinking, reactions and movement

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15
Q

What is the nervous system made up of?

A

It is made up of neurones or nerve cells

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16
Q

What is the purpose of neurones?

A

They transmit electrical impulses to and from the brain

17
Q

What makes up a nerve?

A

Many neurones help together by a sheath

18
Q

What is the nervous system made up of? And give what they consist of

A

CNS- central nervous system
Brain and spinal cord

PNS- peripheral nervous system
Made up of all nerves outside of the brain (cranial nerves) and all the nerves outside the spinal cord ( spinal nerves)

19
Q

Is the PNS under conscious control? And state what 3 things it controls

A

No
It controls the
1.breathing rate
2.Digestion
3.Heart rate

20
Q

What are the 3 types of neurones and state what they do.

A
  1. Sensory neurones - conducts electrical impulses from receptors to the CNS
  2. Motor neurones - conducts electrical impulses from the CNS to the effectors
  3. Intermediate or relay neurones - links sensory neurones to motor neurones. They are found in the CNS.
21
Q

What does the dendrite and dendron do?

A

They carry impulses to the cell body.

22
Q

What does axons do?

A

They carry impulses away from the cell body and to a next neurone.

23
Q

What does the myelin sheath do?

A

This surrounds the axon and dendron. It insulates that part of the neurone so electrical impulses can be transmitted faster.

24
Q

Describe the node of ranvier and what they do?

A

This is a gap between the myelin sheath. They speed up the impulses.

25
Q

Describe the typical nervous pathway.

A

Stimulus —> receptor —> sensory neurone —> CNS —> motor neurone —> effector —> response

26
Q

What is a synapse?

A

This is a gap where the ends of two neurones meet.

27
Q

How does electrical impulses go from one neuron to another?

A

Electrical impulses cannot cross the synapse of two neurones so it is converted to a chemical signal (neurotransmitter) to be able to cross. When it reaches to the other neurone it is then converted back into electrical impulses so that they can quickly go on their way.

28
Q

What is a reflex action and why is it important?

A

This is a quick, automatic response to stimuli that does not involve the brain. It is important because it helps the body avoid harm.

29
Q

Give 3 examples of a reflex action

A

Knee jerk
Sneezing
Blinking

30
Q

What are the two types of reflex actions and give examples and explain them.

A

Spinal reflexes- nerve impulses pass through the spinal cord but not the brain.
Ex- knee jerk

Cranial reflexes- reflexes in the head region
Ex- blinking , the response of the pupil in the eye to light

31
Q

What are the 3 types of actions and explain each and a example.

A

Involuntary action- not under conscious control by the brain
Ex - breathing

Voluntary action- you have to decide to do these actions. The brain is involved.
Ex - drawing

Conditioned reflex - reactions that are first learned then performed without conscious thought.
Ex - riding a bike

32
Q

What does the brain do?

A

It enables man to think and reason

33
Q

How is the brain protected?

A

The brain has grey matter on the outside and white matter on the inside. It is also surrounded by tough membranes called meninges. These contain cerebrospinal fluid which help protect it. The brain is also surrounded by bones of the skull.

34
Q

List the 6 parts of the brain and their functions

A

Cerebrum- controls memory, conscious thought and intelligence

Cerebellum- controls balance, posture and muscle action

Medulla Oblongata- controls involuntary actions . Ex- heartbeat , breathing

Pituitary Gland- an endocrine gland which secretes several hormones

Spinal cord- impurities conduct to and from the brain

Hypothalamus- controls body temperature and water balance (homeostasis)

Biology (11 decks)

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