Nervous communication Flashcards
(22 cards)
What are receptors and what do they do?
Detect stimulus
Can be cells or proteins on cell surface membranes
Loads of different types that detect different stimuli
What are effectors and what do they do?
Cells that bring about a response to a stimulus to produce an effect
Include muscle cells and cells found in glands
How do effectors and recepetors link?
Receptors communicate with effectors via the nervous or hormonal systems
What is the nervous system made up of?
A complex network of cells called neurones
Name the 3 neurons that make up the nervous system
Sensory
Motor
Relay
What do sensory neurones do?
Transmit electrical impulses from receptors to CNS
What do motor neurones do?
Transmit electrical impulses from CNS to effectors
What do relay neurones do?
Transmit electrical impulses between sensory or motor neurones
Explain the process of the nervous system
- A stimulus is detected by receptor cells and an electrical impulse is sent along a sensory neurone
- When an electrical impulse reaches the end of the neurone, neurotransmitters take the information across to the next neurone which then sends an electrical impulse
- The CNS (coordinator) processes the info and sends impulses along motor neurones to an effector
Stimulus - receptor - CNS - effectors - response
Name the 2 nervous systems
Central nervous system (CNS)
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
What is the central nervous system?
Made up of the brain and spinal cord
What is the peripheral nervous system?
Made up of neurones that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
Name and describe the 2 systems of the peripheral nervous system
Somatic nervous system: controls conscious activities
Autonomic nervous system: controls unconscious activities
What two effects can the autonomic nervous system have on the body?
Sympathetic nervous system: gets the body ready for action
Parasympathetic nervous system: calms the body down
What are reflexes?
A reflex is where the body responds to a stimulus without making a conscious decision to respond.
What do simple reflexes do?
Help organisms to protect the body as they are rapid.
(Information travels really fast from receptors to effectors)
What is a reflex arc?
The pathway of neurones to effectors in a reflex
What happens if there is a relay neurone involved in a simple reflex arc?
The reflex can be overridden
What are the 3 features of nervous communication?
Localised
Short lived
Rapid
What does it mean for the nervous system to be localised?
When an electrical impulse reaches the end of a neurone, neurotransmitters are secreted directly onto target cells
What does it mean for the nervous system to be short lived?
Neurotransmitters are quickly removed once they’ve done their job
What does it mean for the nervous system to be rapid?
Electrical impulses are really fast and allows animals to react quickly to stimuli
