Endocrine & Nervous Systems

Question 1

What are the 3 main functions of the nervous system?

Answer 1

Sensory input – monitoring events and changes inside and outside the body
Interpretation – analysing the data
Motor output – response to the incoming data

Question 2

What are the 2 branches of the nervous system?

Answer 2

The central nervous system (CNS)

The peripheral nervous system (PNS)

Question 3

What makes up the CNS?

Answer 3

Brain & Spinal cord

Question 4

What is the role of an Afferent Nerve?

Answer 4

Sends incoming information about change to CNS

Question 5

What is the role of an Efferent Nerve?

Answer 5

Sends outgoing information about a response

Question 6

What two branches is the PNS split into?

Answer 6

Somatic Nervous System

Autonomic Nervous System

Question 7

What is the role of the Somatic Nervous System?

Answer 7

This branch of the PNS is concerned with changes in the external environment. It senses movement, touch, pain, skin temperature etc. It is under our conscious control.

Question 8

What is the role of the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 8

This branch of the PNS is concerned with changes in the internal environment. It senses hormonal status, functioning of internal organs, controls cardiac and smooth (involuntary) muscles and the endocrine glands that secrete hormones. The autonomic nervous system is not under our conscious control.

Question 9

What is the role of Sympathetic Nerves in the efferent nerves of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 9

Sympathetic nerves are responsible for increasing activity and play a vital role in the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism. They work by releasing a chemical known as a neurotransmitter from the nerve ending to bring about an associated response. For example, during times of stress, such as exercise, the neurotransmitters adrenaline and noradrenaline (also known as epinephrine and norepinephrine) are released

Question 10

What changes do the Sympathetic Nerves in the efferent nerves of the autonomic nervous system bring about?

Answer 10

Increased heart rate
Increased breathing rate
More forceful contraction of the heart leading to increased stroke volume
Vasoconstriction of all arteries and arterioles in the body, which increases blood pressure

Question 11

What is the role of Parasympathetic Nerves in the efferent nerves of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 11

Parasympathetic nerves are stimulated to counteract the vasoconstriction of arteries at the working muscles. They are initiated with the increase in carbon dioxide which is a by-product of the increased oxygen utilisation at the active muscles. This increase causes the release of a neurotransmitter - acetylcholine, which has the opposite effect of adrenaline and noradrenaline. The process blocks the vasoconstriction response and actually dilates the arteries at the local working muscles allowing for more oxygen utilisation.

Question 12

What is the role of Chemoreceptors?

Answer 12

Monitor the levels of many chemicals in the body

Question 13

What is the role of Proprioceptors?

Answer 13

Detect excessive tension or contraction

Question 14

What is the role of Baroreceptors?

Answer 14

Monitor BP

Question 15

What is the role of Thermoreceptors?

Answer 15

Detect temperature changes

Question 16

What 3 main parts make up a Neuron?

Answer 16

Axon
Cell Body
Dendrites

Question 17

What is the role of the Dendrites?

Answer 17

To sense the stimulus

Question 18

What covers the Axon?

Answer 18

Lipid/Protein compound called the Myelin Sheath

Question 19

What is the role of the Nodes of Ranvier between the myelin sheath?

Answer 19

Regulate intake and removal of nutrients and west

Question 20

What is at the end of an Axon which interfaces between another neutron or a muscle?

Answer 20

Axon Terminal

Question 21

What is the name of the gap between nerves that the signal passes over?

Answer 21

Synapse

Question 22

What is the is the role of the Muscle Spindles proprioceptor?

Answer 22

Initiate stretch reflex by providing information on how fast a muscle is stretching

Question 23

What is the role of the Golgi Tendon Organs proprioceptor?

Answer 23

Provides feedback on the tension applied to muscle tendons. Force the antagonist muscle to contract and relaxes the contracting muscle

Question 24

What is the role of the Joint Receptor proprioceptor

Answer 24

Provide feedback on the angle of the joint

Question 25

What are 3 methods to progress motor skills?

Answer 25

Slowing the speed of a movement to learn the correct co-ordination technique and pattern, then gradually speeding the movement up to the correct level and improving on this A technique called whole-part-whole which incorporates breaking down a complex movement pattern into parts and perfecting each one before combining the whole movement together again Peer work can help improve motor skill performance by teaching each other a technique; this can in turn improve the teacher’s ability

Question 26

What are the two main groups Hormones can be split into?

Answer 26

Peptide | Steroid

Question 27

What are Peptide Hormones made of?

Answer 27

Chains of Amino Acids

Question 28

How fast to Peptide Hormones generally act?

Answer 28

Quickly to cause metabolic change in the cells the affect

Question 29

What are Steroid Hormones synthesised from?

Answer 29

Cholesterol

Question 30

How fast do Steroid Hormones generally act?

Answer 30

Slowly, by entering target cell and reacting with the DNA

Question 31

Open for table of Hormones...

Answer 31

Name of hormone Location and Function Gland which produces hormone Insulin : Lowers blood glucose by facilitating use and storage Glucagon: Raises blood glucose by facilitating the release of liver glycogen from storage Found in the abdominal cavity, close to the stomach Regulation of blood glucose levels by the action of two hormones Pancreas Adrenaline (catecholamine) also known as epinephrine Noradrenaline (catecholamine) also known as norepinephrine Found at the top of the kidneys Facilitates sympathetic nervous activity - fight or flight response. The mobilisation of fat from adipose tissue, stimulation of breakdown of glycogen to glucose, increases the heart and breathing rate by releasing two hormones Adrenals Testosterone (an androgen or male sex hormone) Found in the pelvic region Promotes masculinity, increases muscle size, decreases body fat, increases red blood cell count Testes Oestrogen Progesterone (female sex hormones) Found in the pelvic region Promotes feminisation, development and roundness of breasts, decrease in hair growth on body, increase of fat by the production of two hormones Ovaries Growth hormone Found at the base of the brain Increases fat metabolism, increases glycogen synthesis, increases blood glucose levels, promotes growth in children and young adults, promotes muscle mass Hypothalamus and Pituitary Thyroxine Found in the neck Increases fat metabolism, increases glycogen synthesis, increases blood glucose levels, promotes growth in children and young adults, promotes muscle mass Thyroid Corticosteroids Found at the top of the kidneys Regulation of stress response, immune responses, control of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism Adrenals Parathyroid Found at the neck (behind the thyroid) Control of calcium in the blood to maintain muscle contraction, blood clotting and nerve impulse transmission Parathyroid gland

Question 32

What are Catecholamines?

Answer 32

Part of the sympathetic nervous system and are the ‘fight or flight’ hormones released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. They act on the nervous system by elevating heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, muscle strength and mental alertness. They also increase the blood to major organs such as the kidneys, heart and brain.

Question 33

What are the most abundant Catecholamines in the human body?

Answer 33

Epinephrine (Adrenaline) | Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline)

Question 34

What is the normal zone for blood sugar levels?

Answer 34

90mg/100ml

Question 35

What is Hyperglycaemia?

Answer 35

Blood sugar levels too high

Question 36

What is Hypoglycaemia?

Answer 36

Blood sugar levels too low

Question 37

What does Insulin cause?

Answer 37

Causes almost every cell to take on Carbohydrates

Question 38

What happens when all muscle cells are saturated with glycogen?

Answer 38

Excess glucose is stored and converted to fat

Question 39

What is the role of Glucagon?

Answer 39

Can create glucose from fats and proteins via glyconeogenisis

Question 40

What is the problem with too much use of Glucagon?

Answer 40

The protein needed to convert glucose often comes from Skeletal Muscles