Test Flashcards
What is a hormone
A chemical substance that acts as a messenger molecule that coordinates different functions in your body by carrying messages through your blood to your organs, skin, muscles and other tissue.
Endocrine vs Nervous system
The nervous system:
1. composed of neurons
2. uses electrical signals and neurotransmitters
3. very fast acting
4. short term effects
5. transmit signals via nerve cells
The endocrine system:
1. composed of glands
2. uses hormones
3. slow acting
4. long term effects
5. transmits signals via the bloodstream
Hypothalamus
Dopamine- gives sense of pleasure
Thyrotropin- regulator of thyroid gland
Cerebellum
Responsible for coordination and balance
Cerebrum
Contains 4 parts, Controls conscious thoughts and voluntary movement.
Brainstem (aka. medulla) function
Controls body’s vital functions such as breathing, blood pressure and heart rate.
Spinal cord function
Acts as a communication pathway between the brain and rest of the body. Plays a key role in controlling movement, sensation and reflex.
Brain
Controls all parts of your body and is responsible for thinking, movement, learning, memory, and maintaining homeostasis
Why is the brain not involved in the reflex arc
The reflex arc does not involve the conscious part of the brain which makes it far quicker. Instead of traveling directly to the brain, sensory neurons of a reflex arc synapse in the spinal cord.
What is a reflex arc
An automatic and rapid response that minimizes any damage to the body.
Stimulus –> response
Stimulus- anything the body senses
Receptor- organs and cells that detect changes in external and internal environments
Control center- uses information to decide what the body needs to do to maintain homeostasis Effector- causes the response
Response
What does the endocrine system do
Regulate body functions by producing and secreting hormones into the bloodstream via glands. The hormones effect growth and development, metabolism and reproduction.
How does the nervous system controls body’s reaction to a change in temperature.
The hypothalamus detects a change in the temperature. Nerves trigger sweat glands to release fluids to cool the skin. The nervous system also triggers muscles to shiver to generate heat.
Why is the pituitary gland called the master gland
Because it plays a crucial role in regulating and controlling many other glands and functions within the endocrine system. It releases hormones that influence the activities of other endocrine glands such as the reproductive glands, thyroid and adrenal gland.
Negative feedback loop of too much water in the blood
Hypothalamus acts as the receptor. The pituitary gland is the effector. ADH production is reduced or stopped. (response). And the water level in the blood decreases as a response.
Negative feedback loop of too little water in the blood
Hypothalamus is the receptor. Production of ADH starts as increases as a response and the feedback is the water levels in the blood increase.
Function of the CNS
Is the control center that processes all the information it receives from your sensory neurons about the environment, and decides whether it should make a response.
Sympathetic function
Increases activity of the organs
Autonomic function
Responsible for automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate. Relays information from the brain to internal organs allowing our body to function without conscious control.
Function of the CNS
Is the control center that processes all the information it receives from your sensory neurons about the environment, and decides whether it should make a response.
Somatic function
Responsible for relaying information to the brain and skeletal muscles and controlling voluntary movement.
What would happen if the pancreas stopped working
The pancreas makes insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Without the production of insulin blood sugar levels (blood glucose) can become too high.
Knee jerk reflex vs conscious movement
The knee jerk reflex is an involuntary rapid response. A conscious movement is the awareness and ability of how you’re moving and to activate a muscle voluntarily. The knee jerk reflex uses the cerebellum where as conscious thought uses the cerebrum.
Nervous system function
Sense and respond to changes in your environment. This is done by receiving, processing and responding to the stimuli. It is involved in controlling all body movements and other vital systems including the heartbeat, breathing and digesting.