Body Regulation and Coordination Flashcards
(86 cards)
1
Q
What is your internal environment of your body?
A
The internal functions including nutrients and pH and everything occurring inside of the body
2
Q
What is the maintenance of a constant internal environment called?
A
Homeostasis
3
Q
Why is homeostasis important for living organisms?
A
- To keep the internal environment stable so that cells and organs can functions properly
- Without, body would struggle to adapt to external changes, leading to serious health problems/death
4
Q
Stimulus
A
- A change in the environment that triggers a response
- (eg. heart, pressure, blood sugar etc.)
5
Q
Receptor
A
A structure (specialised cell or organ) that detects the stimulus and sends a message to the control centre
6
Q
Control Centre
A
A structure that processes sensory information and determines response
7
Q
Effector
A
A structure (muscle, gland or organ) that carries out the response
8
Q
Response
A
An action taken by the stimulus to restore stable function in the body
9
Q
Positive Feedback
A
- The body’s response enhances the original stimulus
- (eg. lactation)
10
Q
Negative Feedback
A
- The body’s response counteracts/opposes the original stimulus
- (eg. regulation of body temperature)
11
Q
What is the main function of the endocrine system?
A
To regulate body functioning through the release of hormones
12
Q
Name three major glands of the endocrine system
A
Pituitary gland, ovaries/testes and the thyroid
13
Q
Which gland is known as the ‘master gland’ of the body?
A
The pituitary gland as it also controls the other glands and is in charge of growth, water balance and reproduction
14
Q
What is the role of the thyroid gland?
A
To regulate metabolism, energy levels and growth
15
Q
How do hormones travel around the body?
A
They travel in the bloodstream after being produced in glands and then attaching to target cells with specific receptors
16
Q
Why do athletes take artificial hormones (eg. testosterone)?
A
To build or increase their muscle mass and therefore enhance their performance
17
Q
What hormone does the pancreas produce to regulate blood sugar levels?
A
Insulin
18
Q
What is the function of insulin and glucagon in blood sugar regulation?
A
To help keep blood sugar/glucose at a healthy level
19
Q
What are the effects of too little insulin? (Type 1 Diabetes)
A
Damage to the:
- Heart
- Kidneys
- Nerves
- Eyes
20
Q
Glycogen
A
The stored form of glucose in the liver
21
Q
How do negative feedback loops help maintain homeostasis in the endocrine system?
A
Helps as they allow for blood glucose to stay at a healthy level and thus maintain homeostasis
22
Q
Outline three responses of the body to prevent it overheating while exercising. In each case
explain how the mechanism cools you down
A
- Sweating → liquid evaporates heat away
- Vasodilation → heat reaches surface and then lost
- Breathing faster → heat escapes through respiration
23
Q
Outline three responses of the body to prevent it freezing while an individual is lying in snow on the alpine slopes. In each case explain how the mechanism prevents you cooling down
A
- Shivering → rapid contractions and therefore heat generated
- Vasoconstriction → blood moves away from surface and to core organs/central body
- Goosebumps → traps hot air through layer with hair
24
Q
Target cells
A
- Have receptors that fit with hormone
25
Sensory Neuron
- Carries sensory information from receptors to CNS
- Have single long axon
- Many long dendrites
- Contains nucleus and other organelles
- Sensory receptors
- Cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia in the spinal chord
- Myelin is present
26
Interneuron
- Forms links between other neurons
- Only occur within brain and spinal chord
- Multipolar
- Diverse shapes and sizes
- No axon
- Have receptors
- Have myelin
27
Motor neuron
- Carries impulses from the CNS to effectors (generally muscles or glands)
- Multipolar
- Large cell bodies
- Dendrites
- Axon
- Myelin sheath
- Receptors
- Primarily in brain and spinal chord
28
Synapse
Send electrical impulses to neighbouring neurons
29
Myelin shealth
- Cover the axon and work like insulation to keep electrical signals inside the cell
- Allows them to move more quickly
30
Axon
- Transfers electrical impulse signals from the cell body to the synapse
31
Soma (Cell body)
- The cell body which contains most of the cell's organelles
- Contains nucleus
- Controls cell activities
32
Nucleus
- Contains the cell's DNA
33
Dendrites
- Receive electrical impulses from neighbouring neurons
34
Axon terminals
- Release chemical messenger/neurotransmitters
35
What is the gap between two neurons called?
Synapse
36
What happens at a synapse?
Neurotransmitters are released and they bind to receptors
37
What is the role of neurotransmitters in a synapse?
To transfer the message to the other neuron so it can continue to pass the message to the nervous system
38
What would happen if a synapse didn’t work properly?
Messages from a neuron would not be able to reach the nervous system and therefore provide feedback
39
How do drugs change the way neurotransmitters work in the brain?
Drugs change the way neurotransmitters work in the brain by either enhancing or dulling their response to the rest of the body
40
Research the names of two neurotransmitter drug (one agonist and one antagonist) and briefly explain
how these drugs work.
- Antagonist is caffeine → blocks receptors in the brain
- Agonist is paracetamol → triggers brain receptor to produce biological response
41
How do drugs mimic or block the action of neurotransmitters on post-synaptic neurons?
By using complementary shapes to receptors
42
Why do you think animals such as dogs have a much better sense of smell than humans?
- More scent receptors
- Larger part of brain dedicated to scent
43
What are the two main parts of the nervous system?
- Central Nervous System (CNS)
- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
44
What are the main functions of the nervous system?
- Breathing
- Moving
- Speaking
- Seeing
45
Is there a difference between a neuron and a nerve?
- A neuron is a nerve cell
- A nerve is a collection of neurons
46
What are the three main parts of a neuron?
- Axon
- Dendrites
- Cell body
47
What is the function of dendrites?
To receive electrical impulses from neighbouring neurons
48
What is the role of the axon?
To transfer electrical impulse signals from the cell body to the synapse
49
What is the myelin sheath, and what does it do?
- A fatty, insulating layer
- Helps to keep the electrical signals inside of the cell
- Allows impulses to move quicker
50
How does a neuron transmit signals?
By releasing neurotransmitters, chemical messengers that move across the synapse
51
What is a synapse?
A gap between two neurons where the sending of neurotransmitters occurs
52
What are neurotransmitters?
- Chemical messengers that help to relay the signal to other neurons
53
What happens when a nerve impulse reaches the end of an axon?
It has to move over the synapse to the next neuron so it occurs through chemical messengers using neurotransmitters
54
What are the three types of neurons, and what do they do?
- Motor neurons → carry impulses from the CNS to effectors (generally muscles and glands) and therefore contribute to movement
- Interneurons → form links between other neurons in the brain and spinal chord
- Sensory neurons → carry sensory information from receptors to CNS
55
What is a reflex?
- An automatic involuntary response which is typically not controlled by the brain
- Knee jerk
56
Why are reflexes important for survival?
- Are quick allowing for a life saving action to happen immediately rather than having to go to the brain thus potentially helping someone to survive
57
How do reflexes help to protect the body?
- By being able to make split second decisions that are unconsious
58
What happens to your pupils in bright light? Why does this reflex occur?
Your pupils get smaller to protect the eyes from being over exposed to light
59
What is the function of the cerebrum?
To control thinking, memory, emotions and decision making
60
What is the function of the cerebellum?
To control balance, coordination and movement
61
What is the purpose of brain folds?
To allow more neurons and connections to be packed closely together, leading to more efficient processing
62
What is the function of the brain stem?
To control breathing, digestion and heartbeat (automatic functions)
63
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
To regulate body temperature, water levels and hunger
64
What is the function of the corpus callosum?
To connect information between the left and right side of the brain
65
Grey Matter
- Primarily composed of cell bodies and dendrites
- Where information processing, thinking and sensation occur
- Outermost layer
66
White Matter
- Bundles of axons which transmit signals between different areas of the brain and the rest of the body
- Deeper tissues of brain (under grey matter)
67
What are the main parts of the brain?
Cerebrum, Cerebellum and Brainstem
68
Which part of the brain helps us with memory and learning?
The hippocampus in the cerebrum
69
How does the brain communicate with the rest of the body?
By sending electrical and chemical signals through neurons and the bloodstream in the forms of neurotransmitters and hormones
70
What is homeostasis?
The process in which the body maintains a stable internal environment.
71
List three examples of homeostasis in the human body.
- Body temperature
- Blood glucose levels
- Nitrogenous waste levels
72
What is the difference between a stimulus and response?
- A stimulus is a change in the internal environment whereas a response is a reaction to this stimulus to restore homeostasis
73
What role does negative feedback play in homeostasis? Provide an example.
- Negative feedback allows for the stimulus to be counteracted and therefore allow the internal environment to be stable
- Example is temperature regulation
74
How does the body regulate blood sugar levels?
By releasing insulin to lower levels and glucagon to increase levels
75
What is thermoregulation? How does the body respond to high temperatures?
- How the body maintains a stable internal temperature to properly function
- Body responds in high temperatures by sweating, vasodilation and faster breathing
76
What is the role of insulin and glucagon in glucose homeostasis?
- To raise and lower the blood glucose levels in the body
- Allows for a stable internal environment
77
What happens when homeostasis fails? Provide an example of a disease caused by homeostatic
imbalance.
- Body may be unable to survive or function properly
- Examples are diabetes, type 1 and 2
78
What is the function of the nervous system?
- To work as the body's processing centre so it can function properly
- Help all parts of the body to communicate with eachother
79
What is the difference between the central nervous system (CNS) & peripheral nervous system (PNS)?
- CNS consists of brain and spinal chord
- PNS consists of the nerves that branch off from the spinal chord and extend to all parts of body
80
What is the function of the axon in a neuron?
To transmit impulses away from cell
81
What is the role of dendrites in a neuron?
To receive stimuli in the form of information from other cells
82
How does the reflex arc work?
The reflex arc is a simple neuron pathway involving few interneurons to control a reflex action (receptor, sensory neuron, spinal chord, interneuron, motor neuron, effector)
83
What is the function of the neurotransmitter?
To relay messages and signals from other cells
84
Propose why many quadriplegic patients who are paralysed from the neck down can still maintain
normal body functions such as breathing and digestion
Because the brain stem (controlling automatic functions) is located above the neck
85
Endocrine System
- Chemical messages
- Slow speed of messages
- Longer duration of response
- Very specific
86
Nervous System
- Electrochemical messages
- Fast speed of messages
- Shorter duration of response
- Very specific
