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Responding to the environment Flashcards

(78 cards)

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1
Q

What is the nervous system used to do?

A

React to stimuli
coordinate various activities of the body

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2
Q

What do nerves do?

A

Carry signals to and from all parts of the body

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3
Q

What are the two main types of neurons?

A

Sensory and motor

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4
Q

What are dendrites?

A

Take impulses to the cell body

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5
Q

What is an axon?

A

Takes impulses away from the cell body

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6
Q

What is the myelin sheath?

A

Insulates the axon which increases the speed at which increases the speed at which impulses travel

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7
Q

What are axon terminals?

A

The end of the axon joining to the synapses.

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8
Q

chemicals released from axon terminals , move across the synapse to the dendrites so that the nerve impulse can continue

A

Neurotransmitters

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9
Q

What are sensory neurons?

A

Transmits impulses from the sense organs or receptors to the CNS(spinal cord and brain)

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10
Q

What are interneurons?

A

Links the sensory neuron to the motor neuron

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11
Q

What are motor neurons?

A

Transmits impulses from CNS to the effectors being the muscles and glands to bring a response.

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12
Q

What are the two parts of the nervous system?

A

CNS (central nervous system) and PNS (peripheral nervous system)

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13
Q

What does the CNS consist of ?

A

Brain and spinal cord which are protected by meninges

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14
Q

What protects the brain?

A

Skull and the meninges ( pia mater , arachnoid mater, dura mater) and cerebrospinal fluid

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15
Q

What is the purpose of cerebrospinal fluid?

A

Protects brain from from shock and injury

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16
Q

What does the brain consist of ?

A

Grey matter (outside) and white matter ( inside)

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17
Q

What are the functions of the cerebrum?

A

Controls voluntary muscular movement
Receives and interprets sensations from sense organs (sight, sound, touch)
Higher thought processes such as emotion, personality, intelligence

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18
Q

What are the functions of the cerebellum?

A

Coordination of voluntary muscular movement
Controls tension of muscles to maintain balance

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19
Q

What are the functions of the Medulla oblongata?

A

Transmits impulses between brain and spinal cord
Maintains vital involuntary body functions such as breathing and heartbeat

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20
Q

What are the functions of the Hypothalamus?

A

Control centre for hunger, thirst, sleep, body temp

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21
Q

What are the functions of the Corpus callosum?

A

Connects left and right hemispheres of brain allowing communication between them

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22
Q

What is the spinal cord protected by?

A

Vertebrae, meninges and cerebrospinal fluid

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23
Q

What is the PNS made up of?

A

It is made up of nerves, more specifically cranial and spinal nerves

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24
Q

What part of the PNS controls involuntary muscles and regulates activity of certain glands ?

A

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

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25
What are the two branches of the ANS
sympathetic branch (excitory in effect) parasympathetic branch (inhibitory in effect)
26
What occurs in a sympathetic system?
Heart rate accelerates constricts (narrows) arteries dilates pupils Slow peristalsis of the gastrointestinal system Relaxes wall of bladder
27
What occurs in the parasympathetic system?
Slows heart rate Dilates arteries Constricts pupils Accelerates peristalsis of the gastrointestinal system Contracts wall of bladder
28
Fast involuntary response of a muscle or gland due to stimulation of a receptor organ
Reflex Action
29
What is a reflex arc?
Neuron pathway from receptor to effector
30
Purpose of reflex arc
bring about a reflex action in order to protect the body
31
Junction between two neurons in which electrical signals pass
Synapses
32
Explain the process of an impulse getting from one neuron to the other
Once an impulse arrives at end of neuron neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the next neuron and trigger an electrical impulse
33
How are synapses significant?
They make sure impulses travel in one direction At the synapse the nerve impulses can be sped up, slowed down or blocked
34
Alzheimers disease
A slow developing disease of the brain Most common form of dementia Causes : old age, family history, head injury Symptoms : memory loss, difficulty finding right words and understanding people and carrying out daily tasks, personality and mood changes
35
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Disease that affects the CNS Myelin sheath breaks down causing scarring affecting the transmission of impulses Causes: Immune system attacks the myelin sheath, due to genetic, environmental factors or exposure to certain viruses Symptoms : Visual problems, limb weakness, loss of coordination and balance, muscle spasms, tiredness, numbness, prolonged pain, difficulty with speed , tremors , dizziness, loss of memory, depression
36
How is the eye protected?
Eyeballs are located in bony skull sockets bone, eyelids and eyelashes protect eye from mechanical injury Glands secrete tears and an oily substance to prevent eyes from drying out muscles attached to the eyeball keep it in the socket and allow eye to move
37
What is the function of the sclera ?
The outer protective layer of the eye which protects the eye against damage.
38
What is the function of the choroid?
Dark layer on the inside of the sclera, supplied with blood vessels to nourish the eye. Prevents internal reflection of light
39
What is the function if the Yellow spot?
Has the greatest number of cones , offers the clearest image
40
What is the function of the optic nerve?
carries impulses from retina to brain
41
What is the function of the blindspot?
NO rods or cones, therefore no vision at this point
42
What is the function of the vitreous humour?
Jelly-like substance giving shape to eye
43
What is the function of the lens?
Transparent elastic part of the eye which focuses light on the retina
44
What is the function of the iris ?
Coloured part of the eye which contains circular and radial muscles to increase/decreases size of pupil, therefore controlling amount of light entering
45
What is the function of the Aqueous humour ?
Watery fluid supporting the cornea and front chamber of eye
46
What is the function of the pupil?
Open space to allow light into eye
47
What is the function of the suspensory ligament?
Holds the lens in position and attaches ciliary body to lens
48
What is the function of the cornea?
Refraction of light in order to create image on retina
49
What is the function of the retina ?
Contains light sensitive cells called photoreceptors which change light stimuli into nerve impulses
50
What is the function of the ciliary body ?
Muscular body in the eye which contacts/relaxes to change shape of lens for focusing
51
What is the function of rods?
very sensitive to light intensity and allow us to see in dim light. Evenly distributed along retina
52
What is the function of cones?
For colour vision and only found in the yellow spot
53
Describe binocular vision
Human have two eyes at the front of their head they eye converts light into nerve impulses that the brain interprets An inverted image is formed at the retina Image converted by photoreceptors and sent via the optic nerve to the brain Here the image is interpreted and we see the same image the right way around
54
What is accommodation of the eye?
The change of shape of the lens to focus light on the retina to create a sharp image
55
True or False ? Accommodation occurs when an object is closer than 6m
True
56
Explain the steps of accommodation in the eye
Ciliary muscles contract Ciliary bodies move closer to the lens Tension in suspensory ligaments decrease (slackens) Elastic lens bulges (diameter increase in size) Incoming light is refracted (bent) onto the yellow spot forming a sharp image on the retina
57
Explain the pupillary mechanism in dim light
Radial muscles of the iris contract Circular muscles relax Pupil dilates The amount of light entering the eye is increased
58
Explain the pupillary mechanism in bright light
Circular muscles of the iris contract Radial muscles relax Pupil constricts The amount of light entering the eye is reduced
59
What is short sightedness?
It is when people cannot see distant objects The lens bend light rays too much because eyeball is too long The image is focused before retina Corrected with concave lens
60
What is long sightedness?
When people cannot see nearby objects Lens doesn’t bend lights rays enough as eyeball is too short Image is focused behind the retina Corrected with convex lens
61
What is astigmatism?
When curvature of lens or cornea is not in uniform Parts of image in focus others out of focus Spectacles or contact lenses can be worn
62
What is cataracts ?
Occurs when lens of eye changes from transparent to opaque Causes blindness by obstructing passage of light Removed with medical procedures
63
What occurs in the outer ear?
External pinnate direct sound waves into external auditory opening Sound waves travel through external auditory opening Sound waves travel along external auditory canal Wax glands traps dirt and prevents desiccation Passage ends in tympanic membrane
64
What occurs in the middle ear?
The opening of Eustachian tube connects ear to pharynx This equalises pressure on either side of the eardrum Oval and round window connect middle ear to inner ear Oval window bears three bony ossicles (hammer, anvil and stirrup) These bones amplify sound
65
What’s occurs in inner ear ?
Enclosed in a bony labyrinth Filled with fluid called perilymph 3 semi circular canals with a swelling called ampulla at their bases Ampullae contain fine hairs for balance Cochlea is spiral shaped Membranes divide cochlea into 3 canals filled with fluid Receptors for sound are found on these membranes Impulses are taken by auditory nerve to cerebrum
66
Function of pinna
Traps sound waves and directs them into auditory canal
67
Function of tympanic membranes
Vibrates and transmits the vibrations to the ossicles in the middle ear
68
Function of the ossicles
The ossicles amplify vibrations and carry them via the middle ear to the membrane of the oval window
69
Function of oval window
Vibrates and causes pressure waves in the inner ear
70
Function of cochlea
These vibrations cause the sensory cells in the organ of Corti to be stimulated in the cochlea and nerve impulses are generated
71
Function of auditory nerve
Transmits nerve impulses to the cerebrum to be interpreted
72
What is the Cristae stimulated by?
Changes in direction and speed of movement
73
What is the maculae stimulated by ?
Changes in position of head?
74
Explain the changes in direction and speed of movement of the head?
Three Semicircular canals lie at right angles to each other They detect changes in direction and speed of movement of the head As head moves one way endolymph tends to stand still and pushes against hair cells of crista This pulls on sensitive hair cells, exciting them and sending nerve impulses to the cerebellum via auditory nerve This gives a sense of which way the head has turned
75
What does the maculae do?
Located in the sacculus and utriculus the maculae helps restore balance by detecting changes in head position
76
Explain how balance is restored when there is a change in head position
The change in position stimulates the maculae Stimulus is converted into an impulse Impulse is transmitted by the auditory nerve to the cerebellum Impulse is interpreted as an abnormal head position (tilt) Cerebellum sends impulses to the muscles in the neck to tilt the head back to normal position Balance is restored
77
What is middle ear infection ?
Excess fluid in middle ear because pus doesn’t drain out Grommet inserted in ear drum to drain
78
What is deafness?
When one is hard of hearing or cannot hear at all Electronic device amplifies sound Cochlea implant stimulated auditory nerve

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