Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

AQA GCSE Biology 9-1 > (Paper 2) 5.1 Homeostasis: The Nervous System > Flashcards

(Paper 2) 5.1 Homeostasis: The Nervous System Flashcards

(73 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is homeostasis?

A

The maintenance of optimal conditions for enzyme action and all cell functions in the body.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why is homeostasis important for enzymes?

A

Because enzymes work best under specific conditions; homeostasis keeps these conditions stable.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What three things does the human body control through homeostasis?

A

Blood glucose concentration,

body temperature,

water levels.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What systems are involved in automatic control responses in the body?

A

The nervous system and the endocrine system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What type of responses does the nervous system coordinate?

A

Nervous responses (e.g., quick, electrical signals).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What type of responses does the endocrine system coordinate?

A

Chemical responses using hormones.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the two main parts of the human nervous system?

A

The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does the central nervous system (CNS) consist of?

A

The brain and spinal cord.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the role of the peripheral nervous system?

A

It consists of nerve cells that carry information to or from the CNS.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are the two ways the body controls internal conditions?

A

Chemical responses and nervous responses.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What do receptors do?

A

Detect stimuli (changes in the environment).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the role of coordination centres like the brain, spinal cord, and pancreas?

A

To receive and process information from receptors.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What do effectors do?

A

Bring about responses that restore optimum levels, such as muscle contractions or hormone release.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are neurones?

A

Nerve cells adapted to carry electrical impulses from one place to another.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is a bundle of neurones called?

A

A nerve.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the three main types of neurones?

A

Sensory neurones, motor neurones, and relay neurones.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What features are common to all neurones?

A

Long axon insulated by a myelin sheath

Dendrons and dendrites for receiving impulses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is the pathway from stimulus to response in the nervous system?

A

Stimulus → Receptor → Coordinator → Effector → Response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are sense organs and what do they contain?

A

Organs that contain groups of receptors which respond to specific stimuli.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Match each sense organ to its stimulus:

  1. Skin
  2. Tongue
  3. Nose
  4. Eye
  5. Ear
A

Skin: Touch, temperature, pain

Tongue: Chemicals in food and drink

Nose: Chemicals in the air

Eye: Light

Ear: Sound and head position

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are effectors and what do they do?

A

Muscles and glands that produce specific responses to stimuli.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Give three examples of effectors in action.

A

Muscle contraction to move an arm

Muscle squeezing saliva from the salivary gland

The gland releasing a hormone into the blood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What is a reflex action?

A

An automatic and rapid response to a stimulus that helps protect the body from harm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Why are reflex actions important?

A

They minimise damage to the body from potentially harmful conditions (e.g., touching something hot).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Does a reflex action involve the conscious part of the brain?
No, this is why it is faster.
26
What is a reflex arc?
The nerve pathway followed during a reflex action.
27
What is the correct sequence of a reflex arc?
Stimulus → Receptor → Sensory neurone → Relay neurone (in spinal cord) → Motor neurone → Effector → Response
28
In a reflex arc, what is the role of the sensory neurone?
To carry electrical impulses from the receptor to the relay neurone.
29
What is the role of the relay neurone in a reflex arc?
To connect the sensory neurone to the motor neurone in the spinal cord.
30
What is the role of the motor neurone in a reflex arc?
To carry impulses from the relay neurone to the effector (e.g., a muscle or gland).
31
What is a synapse?
A small gap between two neurones.
32
How do signals cross a synapse?
Neurotransmitters are released from one neurone and diffuse across the gap to bind to receptors on the next neurone.
33
What happens when neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the second neurone?
They trigger a new electrical impulse in the second neurone.
34
What is the function of the brain?
To control complex behaviour using billions of interconnected neurones.
35
How many main regions does the brain have, and what are they?
Four: Cerebrum, Cerebellum, Medulla, and Hypothalamus.
36
What is the cerebrum and what does it do?
The largest part of the brain, split into two hemispheres and highly folded; it controls intelligence, personality, conscious thought, and high-level functions like language and memory.
37
What does the cerebellum control?
Balance, coordination of movement, and muscular activity.
38
What does the medulla control?
Unconscious activities such as heart rate and breathing rate.
39
What is the function of the hypothalamus?
It regulates body temperature and water balance.
40
How have scientists discovered the functions of different parts of the brain?
By studying brain-damaged patients, electrically stimulating brain regions, and using MRI scans.
41
Who was Phineas Gage and why is he important in neuroscience?
He survived a severe brain injury in 1848 when an iron rod went through his skull; his personality changed, helping scientists link brain areas to behaviour.
42
What did the case of Phineas Gage show about brain function?
That damage to specific brain regions can affect personality and behaviour.
43
What happens during electrical stimulation of the brain?
A weak current is applied; depending on the region stimulated, patients may move involuntarily or report sensations like seeing colours.
44
What is an EEG (electroencephalogram)?
A recording of the brain's electrical activity, used to study brain function.
45
How do MRI scans help scientists study the brain?
MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to show which parts of the brain are active during tasks.
46
Why is brain surgery considered risky?
The brain is delicate and complex, surgery can cause side effects or further damage, affecting the patient’s quality of life.
47
What factors must be considered before brain surgery?
The potential benefits versus the risks and possible side effects of the surgery.
48
What type of receptors does the eye contain?
Receptors sensitive to light intensity and colour.
49
What is the function of the cornea?
To refract (bend) light as it enters the eye. Think: the light bends around the Cornea (sounds like corner)
50
What is the function of the iris?
It controls how much light enters the pupil. Think: The Iris raises the amount of light (Iris sounds like "I rise")
51
What is the function of the lens?
It further refracts light to focus it onto the retina.
52
What is the function of the retina?
It contains light receptors (rods and cones).
53
What is the function of the optic nerve?
To carry electrical impulses between the eye and the brain.
54
What is the function of the sclera?
It is a tough white outer layer that protects the eye from injury.
55
What are the two types of light receptors in the retina?
Rods and cones.
56
What do rod cells do?
Detect light in dim conditions (more sensitive to light than cones).
57
What do cone cells do?
Detect different colours; there are three types for colour vision.
58
What controls the amount of light entering the eye?
The pupil reflex, controlled by the muscles of the iris.
59
How does the pupil reflex work?
The pupil changes size in response to light intensity—smaller in bright light, larger in dim light.
60
What is accommodation in the eye?
The process of changing the shape of the lens to focus on near or distant objects.
61
How does the eye focus on a near object?
Ciliary muscles: Contract Suspensory ligaments: Loosen Lens shape: Becomes thicker Refraction: Light is refracted strongly
62
How does the eye focus on a distant object?
Ciliary muscles: Relax Suspensory ligaments: Tighten Lens shape: Becomes thinner Refraction: Light is refracted slightly
63
Why does the lens become thicker for near objects?
To increase the refraction of light so it focuses properly on the retina.
64
Why does the lens become thinner for distant objects?
To reduce the refraction of light so distant images focus on the retina.
65
What is myopia (short-sightedness)?
A condition where distant objects appear blurry because light focuses in front of the retina.
66
What causes myopia (short-sightedness)?
Eyeball too long Lens too thick and curved
67
How is myopia corrected?
With a concave lens which diverges light rays so they focus on the retina.
68
What is hyperopia (long-sightedness)?
A condition where near objects appear blurry because light focuses behind the retina.
69
What causes hyperopia (long-sightedness)?
Eyeball too short Loss of elasticity in the lens (often age-related)
70
How is hyperopia corrected?
With a convex lens which converges light rays so they focus on the retina.
71
How do contact lenses correct vision?
They sit directly on the cornea and refract light like spectacle lenses.
72
What does laser eye surgery do?
Reshapes the cornea to correct the way light is focused onto the retina.
73
What is a replacement lens?
An artificial lens is implanted into the eye (often in front of the original lens) to correct defects.

AQA GCSE Biology 9-1 (29 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions