The Nervous System Flashcards
Revise it! (14 cards)
What are the two main components of the nervous system?
Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System
Central Nervous System includes the Brain and Spinal Cord, while Peripheral Nervous System consists of Nerves.
What are the three types of neurons?
Sensory, Motor, and Relay
Each type has a specific function in the nervous system.
What is the function of sensory neurons?
Detect changes in the environment and convert to an electrical impulse
They send messages to the central nervous system.
What do motor neurons do?
Carry response from the central nervous system to effectors
Effectors are parts of the body that produce a response, such as muscles and glands.
What is the role of relay neurons?
Carry signals from one part of Central Nervous System to another
They connect sensory and motor neurons.
Describe the direction of impulses in a motor neuron.
Travels from the Brain to effectors
Motor neurons are responsible for conveying responses.
What is the stimulus-response model?
Stimuli to Receptors to Effectors
This model explains how the body responds to environmental changes.
Define stimulus in the context of the nervous system.
Any change in the environment detected by the body
Stimuli can include various types of environmental changes.
What are receptors?
Specialised structures that detect changes in the body
They play a crucial role in sensing stimuli.
What are effectors in the nervous system?
Cause action in the internal environment to bring it back to normal
Effectors include muscles and glands that respond to signals.
What is a reflex arc?
The pathway followed by nerve impulses in a reflex action
It involves sensory neurons, the spinal cord, and motor neurons.
Fill in the blank: The first step in a reflex arc is the _______.
Stimulus
An example of a stimulus could be a burn.
What happens to the stimulus in a reflex arc?
Picked up by sensory receptors in the skin
These receptors initiate the reflex action.
Describe the process of a reflex arc after the stimulus is detected.
Goes across sensory neurons to the spinal cord, neurotransmitters transfer an electrical impulse in the spinal cord across the synapse, into the motor neuron, to effector
This process allows for a rapid response to stimuli.
