6 - Stimuli, nerves & Homeostasis Flashcards
(98 cards)
What is a Tropism
Growth of a plant in response to a directional stimulus
How does Indoleacetic acid (IAA) affect cell elongation roots vs shoots
Shoots - high concentrations of IAA stimulates cell elongation
Roots - high concentrations of IAA inhibits cell elongation
Describe gravitropism
- cells in tip of shoot produce IAA
- IAA diffuses down shoot/roots
- IAA moves to lower side of shoot/roots
- so shoots bend away from gravity but roots bend towards gravity
Describe phototropism
- cells in tip of shoot/root produce IAA -> diffuses down shoot/root
- IAA moves to shaded side of shoot/root
- shoots bend towards light but roots bend away from light
Describe what Taxes are
- directional response
- movement towards or away from a stimulus
Describe what Kineses are
- non directional response
- speed of movement or rate of direction change
- depends on intensity of stimulus
Describe a simple reflex arc
Stimulus -> receptor -> sensory neurone -> relay neurone -> motor neurone -> effector -> response
Suggest why the same organism is not used more than once (RP)
- reduces stress on wood lice
- prevents chance of learned behaviours
Why where the Woodlice left for 15 mins before their movement was recorded
- time to establish humidity
- woodlice no longer effected by handling
- so that behaviour is typical of humidity
Explain how to ensure ethical and safe handling of animals
- handle carefully/return to habitat ASAP
- cover open wounds, wash hands with soap to minimise risk of infection
Why use a mesh platform (woodlice RP)
To keep woodlice a safe distance from drying agent
Why use a clean Petri dish/maze each time
- animals may leave chemicals/scents
- which influence behaviour of other animals
Describe how potential is generated in a pacinian corpuscle 3m
- pressure deforms lamellae and stretch-mediated Na+ ion channels
- Na+ channels in membrane open and Na+ DIFFUSE into sensory neurone
- Greater pressure causes more Na+ channels to open and more Na+ to enter
What is the all or nothing principle
- for an action potential to be produced, depolarisation most exceed threshold potential
- action potentials produced are always the same magnitude/size/peak at same potential
Bigger stimuli frequency of action potentials
Describe nerve impulse along a myelinated axon
- myelination provides electrical insulation
- depolarisation of axon at nodes of ranvier only resulting in saltatory conduction (local currents circuits)
- so there is no need for depolarisation along the whole length of axon
What’s the effect of multiple sclerosis or any other nerve disease
damage to the myelin sheath so slow responses & jerky movement:
- less/no saltatory conduction, depolarisation occurs along whole length of axon so nerve impulses take longer to reach neuromuscular junction, delay in muscle
- ions/depolarisation may pass/leak to other neurones which causes wrong muscle fibres to contract
What is the refractory period
The time taken to restore axon to resting potential when no further action potential can be generated because Na+ channels are closed/inactive/will not open
Why is the refractory period important
- ensures discrete impulses are produced (action potentials don’t overlap)
- limits frequency of impulse transmission at a certain intensity
. Higher intensity stimulus causes higher frequency of action potentials
. But only up to certain intensity - also ensures action potentials travel in one direction - can’t be propagated in a refractory region
What are the 3 factors affecting speed of nerve impulses
- myelination
- axon diameter
- temperature
How does axon diameter effect transmission speed
Bigger diameter means less resistance to flow of ions in cytoplasm
How does temperature effect transmission speed
- increases rate of diffusion of Na+ and K+ as more kinetic energy
- but proteins/enzymes could denature at a certain temperature
What are Rod and cone cells in the eye
Rod - black and white
Cones - colour
Why are cones less sensitive to light
- each cone is connected to a single neurone
- no spatial summation
Why do cones give higher visual acuity
- each cone connected to a single neurone
- cones send separate impulses to the brain