Biopsychology

Question 1

what are the two main functions of the nervous system

Answer 1

1. collect, process and respond to information in the environment
2. co-ordinate the working of different organs and cells in the body

Question 2

what does the CNS consist of

Answer 2

the brain and spinal cord

Question 3

what is the function of the spinal cord

Answer 3

relay information between the brain and the rest of the body

Question 4

what are the 4 lobes of the cerebrum

Answer 4

• frontal
• pariental
• occipital
• temporal

Question 5

what is the role of the peripheral nervous system

Answer 5

• sends information to the CNS from the environment
• transmits messages from the CNS to muscles and glands

Question 6

what is the peripheral nervous system subdivided into

Answer 6

• autonomic nervous system
• somatic nervous system

Question 7

explain the somatic nervous system

Answer 7

controls voluntary muscle movement

Question 8

explain the autonomic nervous system

Answer 8

controls involuntary vital functions such as heart rate

Question 9

what is the autonomic nervous system subdivided into

Answer 9

• sympathetic nervous system
• parasympathetic nervous system

Question 10

explain the role of the sympathetic nervous system

Answer 10

involved in reponses that help us deal with emergencies
(fight or flight)

Question 11

explain the role of the paraysmpathetic nervous system

Answer 11

the bodys resting state
(rest and digest)

Question 12

explain the changes the following organ has in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system:

• the heart

Answer 12

• sympathetic nervous system = increase in heart rate, increase blood flow to organs
• parasympathetic = resting heart rate

Question 13

explain the changes the following organ has in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system:

• lungs

Answer 13

• sympathetic = increased breathing rate
• parasympathetic = resting breathing rate

Question 14

explain the changes the following organ has in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system:

• pupils

Answer 14

• sympathetic = pupipls dilute
• parasympathetic = pupils normal

Question 15

explain the changes the following organ has in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system:

• digestion

Answer 15

• sympathetic = reduction of non essential functions
• parasympathetic = digestion as normal

Question 16

what is the function of the endocrine system

Answer 16

release hormomes from glands into the bloodstream which regulate the activity of cells and organs

Question 17

define glands

Answer 17

organ in the body that produces hormones

Question 18

explain what the thyriod gland releases and what this does

Answer 18

produces thyroxine which increases metabolic rate

Question 19

explain what the adrenal gland releaes and what this does

Answer 19

releases adrenaline which triggers physiological changes in the body needed for fight or flight

Question 20

explain the role of the pituitary gland

Answer 20

the master gland because it controls the release of hormones from all other glands

Question 21

explain what the testes produce and what this does

Answer 21

produces testosterone which causes the development of male characteristics

Question 22

SAM pathway

explain the bodys response to a stressful situation

Answer 22

• message is sent to the hypothalamus which triggers the sympathetic nervous system
• the sympathetic nevous system triggers the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline into the bloodstream
• adrenaline causes a number of pysiological changes in the body to prepare for fight or flight

Question 23

explain what adrenaline is

Answer 23

a hormone produced by the adrenal glands which is a part of the human bodys imediate stress response

Question 24

HPA axis

explain the bodys response to proloongues stress

Answer 24

• hypothalamus releases a hormone called CRH
• CRH causes the pituitary gland to produce and release ACTH
• ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol
• this gives a quick burst of energy and lowers sensitivity to pain

Question 25

# explain the function of the following structure in a neuron: the cell body

Answer 25

includes a nucleus which contains genetic information

Question 26

# explain the function of the following structure in a neuron: dendrites

Answer 26

banch like structures that come out of the nerve cell to connect with other neurons

Question 27

# explain the function of the following structure in a neuron: the axon

Answer 27

carry nerve impulses away from the cell body

Question 28

# explain the function of the following structure in a neuron: the myelin sheath

Answer 28

insulates and protects the axon from external influences

Question 29

# explain the function of the following structure in a neuron: nodes of ranvier

Answer 29

gaps in the myelin sheath that force the impulse to "jump" accross the gaps

Question 30

# explain the function of the following structure in a neuron: terminal buttons \ axon terminal

Answer 30

send impulses to the next neuron accross the synapse

Question 31

what are the 3 different types of neurones

Answer 31

* sensory * relay * motor

Question 32

# describe the structure of the following neuron: sensory

Answer 32

* long dendrites * short axons

Question 33

# describe the structure of the following neuron: relay

Answer 33

* short dendrites * short axons

Question 34

# describe the structure of the following neuron: motor

Answer 34

* short dendrites * long axons

Question 35

# what is the function of the following neuron: sensory

Answer 35

carry messages from the PNS to the CNS

Question 36

# what is the function of the following neuron: relay

Answer 36

connect the sensory neurons to motor or other relay neurones

Question 37

# what is the function of the following neuron: motor

Answer 37

relay information from the CNS to effectors

Question 38

what is synaptic transmission

Answer 38

the process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other

Question 39

what is an action potential

Answer 39

an action potential occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon, away from the cell body

Question 40

explain the process of synaptic transmission

Answer 40

* when the electrical impulse reaches the end of the neuron (pre synaptic terminal) vesicles containing neurotransmitters bind with the pre synaptic membrane * when they bind they release neurotransmitters from vesicles * the neurotransmitters travel accross the synaptic cleft by diffusion and attach to receptors on the post synaptic membrane * the chemical message is then convertd back to an electrical impulse and the message continues

Question 41

what are excitatory neurotransmitters

Answer 41

neurotransmitters that increase the likelihood that a neuron will fire

Question 42

what are inhibitory neurotransmitters

Answer 42

neurotrasnmitters that decrease the likelihood that a neuron will fire

Question 43

What is the difference between an excitatory and an inhibitory neurotransmitter?

Answer 43

* Excitatory neurotransmitters make the postsynaptic neuron more likely to fire (excitation). * Inhibitory neurotransmitters make it less likely to fire (inhibition).