U1T3 - Coordination & Control (2) Flashcards
Animals
What does coordination in animals rely on?
Hormones and nervous impulses which travel through neurones.
What are the 3 types of neurones?
Sensory, motor + relay neurones.
What are the 3 common features of neurones?
Cell body/centron, dendrons + axons.
Describe the general structure of nerves in mammals?
Mostly myelinated which speeds up nerve impulse transmission + protects neurone.
What does the presence of a cell membrane result in in all cells?
Uneven distribution of charged ions across membrane.
What do neurones have in response to their resting potential?
Electrochemical gradient across membrane (+ ions want to move to - region + vice versa) Ions can’t flow across membrane as required transmembrane proteins closed.
What happens when a stimulus is applied to the neurone + it reaches threshold potential?
The transmembrane proteins open + positively charged ions flood into cell so it’s pot diff rises. When it reaches threshold potential, more voltage gated ion channels open + neurone becomes depolarised. PD reaches peak of +40mV (Action Potential)
What happens when a stimulus is applied to the neurone + doesn’t reach threshold potential?
Transmembrane proteins open + positively charged ions flood into cell so it’s PD rises. As it doesn’t reach threshold potential, then action potential isn’t fired + stimulus is referred to as sub threshold stimulus. Neurones display all or nothing principle.
How does a nerve impulse work?
There are transmembrane proteins which are voltage gated ion channels + localised circuits generated along membrane. Areas with - charges attract + charges + vice versa. Localised circuits flow in both directions but only result in action potentials in areas of membrane which have resting potential returned. Voltage Gated Ion Channels do their job so depolarisation occurs, making action potential more likely and this continues along neurone resulting in impulse.
Why do localised circuits only result in actions potentials in areas where resting potential has returned?
Due to refractory period.
What happens to impulse transmission speed in myelinated neurones?
Speed increased as local current can only exist at nodes of Ranvier.
What affects speed of impulse transmission?
Whether neurone is wrapped in myelin + temperature as rate of diffusion directly affected + axon diameter.
Give 2 examples of neurotransmitters.
Acetylcholine + GABA.
What is GABA’s mode of action?
Open chloride ion channels rather than usual sodium ion channels. As chloride ions carry - charge, interior of neurone becomes more negative in contrast to surrounding fluid.
What allows us to provide coordinated responses to range of stimuli?
Integration of IPSPs + EPSPs by CNS.
What is the negative effect of bright light?
Can damage the light sensitive cells of the retina.
What is the issue with low light intensities?
Eye can have difficulty forming an image.
What is the solution to the issues of light and the eye?
Size of pupil can be altered through the action of muscles in iris.
What happens when bright light is detected?
Circular muscles contract, radial muscles relax, pupil constricted so amount of light entering eye reduced so preventing damage to light sensitive cells of retina.
What happens when dim light is detected?
Circular muscles relax, radial muscles contract, pupil dilates allowing more light to enter eye so enough light reaches light sensitive cells to form image.
What are 2 functions of the eye?
Change pupil size to prevent damage + allow sight.
Ability to change lens shape to focus on near + distant objects.
What components are involved in changing lens shape?
Ciliary muscles, suspensory ligaments + lens.
What is necessary to form a sharp image?
Light rays must be refracted to single point on retina. Lots of light refraction at cornea. Lens completes refraction by bending rays by appropriate amount depending on distance from object.
When happens when viewing a distant object?
Ciliary muscles relax, tension in eye ball wall transferred to suspensory ligaments, pulling them taut, lens pulled into thinner shape + refractive power of lens reduced.
What happens when viewing a near object?
Ciliary muscles contract, eyeball tension not transferred to suspensory ligaments so they slacken, less pressure exerted on lens so it bulges, becoming thicker, refractive power of lens increased.
Describe the structure of rods.
Inner segment with nucleus + many mitochondria, rod shaped outer segment containing membrane discs packed with light sensitive pigment.
Describe the structure of cones.
Inner segment with nucleus + many mitochondria, cone shaped outer segment containing membrane discs packed with light sensitive pigment.
What is the light sensitive pigment in rods?
Rhodopsin.