Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology A level > Unit 6 - Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments > Flashcards

Unit 6 - Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Tropism

A

A plants growth response to an external stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Types of tropisms

A

Gravitrophism
Hydrotrophism
Phototrophism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How does IAA move through plant

A

Via phloem (Mass transport)
Then diffusion/ active transport through cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Two types of responses in animals and definitions

A

Taxis- An organism moves towards/ away from a directional stimulus
Kinesis- Movement affected by a non-directional stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Nervous response cycle

A

Stimulus–> Receptors—> CNS —–> Effectors —-> Response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Two parts of nervous system

A

Central nervous system
Peripheral nervous system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Two types of peripheral nervous system

A

Somatic
Autonomic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Two types of autonomic nervous system + description

A

Sympathetic- ‘Fight or flight’
Parasympathetic- ‘Rest + Digest’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Benefits of reflexes

A

-Rapid
- Prevent tissue damage
- Don’t require conscious thought

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the resting potential difference

A

-70 mV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Steps in an action potential being generated

A

1- Resting potential
2- Depolarisation pt 1 (stimulus)
3- Depolarisation pt 2 (Channels open)
4- Repolarisation
5- Hyperpolarisation then return to resting potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a stimulus

A

A detectable change in the environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is a reflex?

A

The body responds to a stimulus without mkaing a consious decision to respond.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are pacinian corpuscles

A

Pressure recpetors in the skin that detect mechanical stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How does the brain portray light?

A
  1. Light enters the eye and hits the photoreceptors
  2. This is absorbed by light-sensitive optical pigments
  3. Light bleaches the pigments, causing a chemical change and altering the membrane permability to sodium ions
  4. A generator potential is created and if it reaches the threshold, a nerve impulse is snet along a bipolar neurone.
    Bipolar neurones connect photoreceptors to the optic nerve, which takes impulses to the brain.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the two photoreceptors and where are they found?

A
  1. Rods - peripheral parts of the retina
  2. cones - closely packed together in the fovea
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Are rods very sensitive?

A

Yes - Rods are very sensitive to light and work well in dim settings
This is beacuse many rods join to one neurone, so many weak generator potentials combine to reach the threshold and trigger an action potential.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Are cones very sensitive?

A

No - Cones are less sensitive than rods beause one cone joins to one neurone. This means it takes more light to reach the threshold and trigger the action potential.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Do rods have high visual acutity?

A

No - Rods give low visual acuity because many rods join to the same neurone which means light from two points close together cannot be told apart.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Do cones have high visual acuity?

A

Yes - Cones give high visual acuity beacuse cones are close together and one cone joins one neurone.
Produces multiple different impulses to brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Step 1 - Stimulus- Pacinian corpuscle

A

A stimulus excites the neurone cell membrane causing stretch mediated sodium ion channels to open. The membrane becomes more permeable to sodium, so sodium ions diffuse into the neurone down the sodium ions electrochemical gradient. This makes the inside of the neurone less negative.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Step 2 - Depolarisation

A

If the potential difference reaches the threshold (around -55mV), more voltage gated sodium channels open. More sodium ions diffuse rapidly into the neurone.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Step 3 - Repolarisation

A

At a potential difference of around +33 mV the sodium ion channels close and the voltage gated potassium channels open.
The membrane is more permeable to potassium ions so potassium ions diffuse out of the neuron down their concentration gradient.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Step 4 - Hyperpolarisation

A

Potassium ion channels are slow to close.
This means there is a slight overshoot where too many potassium ions diffuse out the neurone.
The potential difference becomes more negative than the resting potential (< -70mV)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Step 4 - Hyperpolarisation

A

Potassium ion channels are slow to close.
This means there is a slight overshoot where too many potassium ions diffuse out the neurone.
The potential difference becomes more negative than the resting potential (< -70mV)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Step 5 - Resting potential

A

The voltage-gated ion channels are closed.
Sodium potassium pump pumps sodium out and potassium in in the ratio 3:2
Potassium ion channels open so potassium diffuses back out of membrane down electrochemical gradient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Wave of depolarisation steps

A
  1. When an action potential occurs, come of the sodium ions that enter the neurone diffuse sideways
  2. This causes sodium ion channels in the next region to open and sodium ions diffuse into that part
  3. This causes a wave of depolarisation to travel along the neurone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is the refactory period?

A

It is a time delay between action potentials where ion channels are recovering and cant be opened.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Why is the refactory period important?

A
  • Action potenials dont overlap - pass on discrete impulses
  • There is a limit to the frequency at which nerve impulses can be transmitted
  • Action potentials are unidirectional
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

All or nothing theory for action potentials

A
  • Once the threshold is reached an action potential will always fire with the same change in voltage, no matter how big the stimulus is.
  • A bigger stimulus won’t cause a bigger action potenial but will cause them to fire more frequently.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What 3 factors affect the speed of conducation of action potentials?

A
  1. Myelination
  2. Axon diameter
  3. Temperature
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

How does temperature affect the speed of conducation of action potentials?

A
  • Diffusion occurs faster at higher temperatures, increasing the speed of conduction.
  • Only increases up to around 40C, as proteins start to denature.
  • If plasma membrane proteins and enzymes denature there is NO conduction!
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

How does myelination affect the speed of conduction of action potenials?

A
  • The myelin sheath acts as an electrical insulator.
  • Prevents action potentials in the part of the axon covered by the myelin.
  • Action potential jumps from node to node (saltatory conduction). i.e. depolarisation is not required all the way along the axon.
  • Increases speed of conduction.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

How does the Axon diameter affect the speed of conduction of action potenials?

A
  • The greater the diameter of an axon, the faster the speed of conductance.
  • There is less resistance to the flow of ions in the cytoplasm of wider axons.
  • Ions therefore reach other parts of the neurone faster.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What does myogenic mean?

A

It can contract and relax without receiving signals from nerves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What and where is the sinoatrial node?

A
  • It is located in the right atrium and is like a pacemaker.
  • It sets the rhythm of the heartbeat by sending out regular waves of electrical actvity.
    It causes the right and left atria to contract at the same time.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What and where is the atrioventricular node?

A
  • It is loacted near the border of the right and left ventricle but still within the artia.
  • It is reposnsible for passing on waves of electrical activity on to the bundle of His.
    (There is a slight delay beore the AVN reacts to make sure the atrira have emptied before the ventricles contract)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What and where is the bundle of His?

A
  • Runs through the septum
  • It is a group of muscle fibres responsible for conducting waves of electrical activity between the ventricles to the apex of the heart.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

What and where is the purkyne tissue?

A
  • In the walls of the ventricles
  • It carries the waves of electrical activity into the muscular walls of the right and left ventricles, causing them to contract simultaneously, from the bottom up.
39
Q

What is the medulla oblongata?

A

The medulla oblongata in the brain controls the heart rate, via the autonomic nervous system

40
Q

What are the baroreceptors?

A

They are pressure receptors in the aorta and the carotid arteries. They’re stimulated by high and low blood pressure.

41
Q

What does the refractory period ensure

A

Impulses don’t overlap
They travel in one direction

42
Q

All or nothing principle

A

When a threshold is met an action potential fires
This is the same size regardless of the size of the stimulus
A larger stimulus will cause the action potential to fire more frequently

43
Q

Factors which affect speed of an action potential transmission

A

Myelination
Axon diameter
Temperature

44
Q

Transmission of an action potential across a synapse steps

A
  • An action potential at the synaptic knob causes an increase in permeability to calcium
  • Calcium diffuses in via voltage-gated calcium ion channels
  • This causes synaptic vesicles to fuse with the presynaptic membrane releasing acetylcholine
  • Acetylcholine binds to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane opening voltage-gated sodium ion channels
  • The influx of ions causes depolarisation of the membrane
  • If this reaches the threshold then an action potential is generated
  • The acetylcholine is hydrolysed by acetyl cholinesterase on the postsynaptic membrane and the products are reabsorbed into the synaptic knob.
45
Q

Key differences for neuromuscular junction

A

-They have more chemoreceptors for Ach
- THey have more wells containing ACh esterase
- Each impulse causes an action potential

46
Q

Excitatory neurone

A

Depolarise the postsynaptic neurone
Use Ach

47
Q

Inhibitory neurone

A

Hyperpolarise postsynaptic neurone
Use GABA

48
Q

Spatial summation

A

Many to one (neurones)
Result bases on combination of neurones

49
Q

Temporal summation

A

1 to 1
Result based on frequency of impulse

50
Q

3 types of muscle

A

Smooth- Involuntary
Cardiac muscle- Involuntary
Skeletal (Striated)- Voluntary

51
Q

What is the sarcolemma + role

A

The cell membrane
Allows transmission of impulse into sarcoplasmic reticulum

52
Q

What is the sarcoplasm

A

The cell cytoplasm

53
Q

Sarcoplasmic reticulum

A

Endoplasmic reticulum of muscle cells
Releases calcium ions- stimulating muscle contraction

54
Q

Two types of myofilaments

A

Actin
Myosin

55
Q

What do dark bands contain

A

Mainly myosin- some actin

56
Q

What do light bands contain (I bands)

A

Just actin

57
Q

What happens (each band) during contraction

A

A bands stay the same
I bands and H zones get shorter

58
Q

Muscle contraction process

A

1- At rest, tropomyosin blocks myosin binding sites- actin cannot bind
2- Ca2+ is released binding to troponin causing tropomyosin to be moved out of the way
3- Actin binds to mysosin then releases ADP + Pi causing the myosin heads to change angle
4- Free ATP binds to myosin head changing its shape so the actinomyosin cross bridge is broken
5- ATP on the myson is hydrolysed causing myosin to return to its original position
6-The myosin binds to actin and the process repeats

59
Q

Aerobic respiration advantages

A
  • Lots of ATP produced overall
  • Good for long periods of low intensity exercise
60
Q

Advantages anaerobic respiration

A
  • Rapid ATP production
  • Lactate produced which causes fatigue
  • Good for short periods of hard exercise
61
Q

Phosphocreatine as an energy release

A
  • ATP generated very quickly
  • Runs out after a few seconds
62
Q

Slow twitch muscle properties

A

Slow contraction
Fatigue slowly
Slow energy release
Rich in myoglobin
More, larger mitochondria
Smaller store of calcium ions in tubules
More blood capillaries

63
Q

Fast twitch muscle properties

A
  • Fast contraction
  • Fatigue quickly
  • Fast energy release
  • Less rich in myoglobin
  • Fewer smaller mitochondria
  • Larger store of calcium ions in tubules
  • Fewer blood capillaries around fibres
64
Q

How IAA works

A
65
Q

Steps of depolarisation of a Pacinian copuscle

A

No pressure- Excess of NA+ ions outside of Axon

Pressure is applied- Layers are distorted and stretch-mediated sodium ion channels to open
Sodium ions move in by facilitated diffusion

Generator potential established
The influx of sodium ions causes depolarisation of the membrane
If enough generator potential is established-IE threshold is met, an action potential will be generated.

66
Q

Label structure of eye

A
67
Q

Label myelinated neurone

A
68
Q

Myogenic stimulation of the heart steps

A

SAN sends out a wave of excitation
Atria contract
AV node sends out a wave of excitation after a delay
Purkyne tissue conducts wave of excitation down the septum and to the apex
Ventricles contract from the apex

69
Q

Genrating resting potential

A

3 Sodium ions pumped out of cell
2 potassium ions pumped in
Sodium ion channels open
Potassium ion channels closed
K+ diffuse out-
More positive outside cell
More negative inside

70
Q

How to tell if something is a negative feedback mechanism

A

The level is brought back yo

71
Q

How to tell if positive feedback mechanism

A

Effectors will amplify the change

72
Q

Factors which affect blood glucose concerntration

A

Eating food containing carbohydrates
Falls after exercising

73
Q

Response when blood glucose levels too high

A

Pancreas detects change in blood glucose levels
Beta cells are stimulated and release insulin into blood
Insulin increases permeability of muscle cells to glucose
It also increases glycogenesis and decreases glycogenolysis within the liver
Insulin also increases rate of respiration of glucose in muscles

74
Q

Response when blood glucose levels too low

A

Alpha cells secrete glucagon
Liver stimulated to increase glycogenolysis
Enzymes are activated which stimulate gluconeogenesis
Glucagon also decreases rate of respiration of glucose in cells

75
Q

Effect of adrenaline on blood glucose concerntration

A

Adrenaline binds to receptors on cell membrane of liver cells
Activates glycogenolysis
It inhibits glucogenesis
it activates glucagon secretion and inhibits insulin secretion

76
Q

Second messenger model

A

Adrenaline/ Insulin/ Glucagon bind to cell surface receptors
This activates adenylate cyclase
This converts ATP into adenylate cyclase
This activates protein kinase which causes a chain reaction

77
Q

How does insulin increase uptake of glucose into muscle cells

A

When insulin levels low, transporters are stored in vesicles inside cells
When insulin binds, it triggers movement of channel proteins to cell surface membrane
Glucose can be transported into the muscle by facilitated diffusion

78
Q

Type 1 diabetes cause and treatment

A

Immunse system attacks B cells- no production of insulin
Treated by insulin therapy and controlling diet

79
Q

Type 2 diabetes cause and treatment

A
  • Insulin receptors on membrane of cell dont respond properly to insulin
  • Treated by losing weight/ regular exercise
    Glucose lowering medications/ Insulin therapy
80
Q

Process of ultrafiltration

A

Afferent arteriole has larger lumen than efferent arteriole
This results in a high hydrostatic pressure of blood movig through bowmans capsule
The hydrostatic pressure forces out water and small ions
Large molecules such as proteins stay in blood

81
Q

Adaptation of proximal convoluted tubule

A

Microvilli
Provide a large surface area for reabsorbtion of molecules

82
Q

How are molecules reabsorbed in proximal convoluted tubule

A

They are absorbed via active transport

83
Q

Urine contains…

A

Water and dissolved salts
Urea
Hormones and excess vitamins

84
Q

Urine doesnt contain…

A

Protein and blood cells
Glucose as it is reabsorbed back into the blood

85
Q

Process of reabsorbtion of water in loop of Henle

A
  • Thick ascending limb is impermeable to water and sodium ions are pumped out by active transport- this creates a water potential gradient down the medulla
  • Because of the lowered water potential- water moves out of the descending limb by osmosis into the medulla- to be absorbed by the capillary network
  • Near bottom of ascending limb Na+ ions diffuse out into medulla- maintaining high Na+ concerntration at bottom of medulla
  • These three steps massively decrease water potential in medulla- as a result, water moves out of the collecting duct by osmosis
86
Q

Steps when dehydrated

A
  • Water potential in blood drops
  • Change is detecteed by osmoreceptors in hypothalamus
  • Posterior pituitary gland is stimulated to release more ADH into blood
  • More ADH means DCT and collecting duct become more permeable and absorb more water by osmosis
87
Q

What is the name of the membrane in the glomerulus?

A

Basement membrane

88
Q

Describe function of myelin sheath

A

Schwann cells are electrical conductors
Ions cannot move through
Depolarisation only occurs at nodes of ranvier
Increases speed of impulses due to saltatory conduction

89
Q

Draw the Structure of sarcomere

A

ok

90
Q

Which organ releases hormones involed in blood glucose regulation

A

Pancreas

91
Q

Describe what happens during selective reabsorbtion

A
92
Q

What detects low water potential in blood

A

Osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus

93
Q

What secretes ADH

A

Pituitary gland

94
Q

Advantages of second messenger model

A

Each molecule of hormone can produce lots of cAMP
These activate large numbers of enzymes
Blood glucose concerntration raised very quickly

95
Q

Why is leaching less likely to occur with natural fertiliser

A

Made of organic matter
Must be decomposed by saprobionts
Less likely to be leached as it isnt released too quickly

Biology A level (13 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions