Coordination And Response
Overview
Touch something hot and your hand pulls away before you even feel the pain. That split-second response is your nervous system at work, sending electrical signals faster than you can think. It is the system that keeps all the parts of your body working together.
In this lesson you will learn how the nervous system is organised into a central and a peripheral part, meet the three kinds of neurone, and trace a reflex arc from stimulus to response. You will also discover how signals jump the gap between neurones at a junction called a synapse.
Objectives
- State that electrical impulses travel along neurones
- Describe the mammalian nervous system in terms of: (a) the central nervous system (CNS) consisting of the brain and the spinal cord (b) the peripheral nervous system (PNS) consisting of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord
- Describe the role of the nervous system as coordination and regulation of body functions
- Identify in diagrams and images sensory, relay and motor neurones
- Describe a simple reflex arc in terms of: receptor, sensory neurone, relay neurone, motor neurone and effector
- Describe a reflex action as a means of automatically and rapidly integrating and coordinating stimuli with the responses of effectors (muscles and glands)
- Describe a synapse as a junction between two neurones
- [Supplement] Describe the structure of a synapse, including the presence of vesicles containing neurotransmitter molecules, the synaptic gap and receptor proteins
- [Supplement] Describe the events at a synapse as: (a) an impulse stimulates the release of neurotransmitter molecules from vesicles into the synaptic gap (b) t he neurotransmitter molecules diffuse across the gap (c) n eurotransmitter molecules bind with receptor proteins on the next neurone (d) an impulse is then stimulated in the next neurone
- [Supplement] State that synapses ensure that impulses travel in one direction only
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Coordination And Response. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- The central nervous system consists of the: A. brain and nerves B. brain and spinal cord C. spinal cord and nerves D. nerves only Answer: B
- Which neurone carries impulses from a receptor to the CNS? A. motor neurone B. relay neurone C. sensory neurone D. effector Answer: C
- The correct order of a simple reflex arc is: A. receptor, motor neurone, relay neurone, sensory neurone, effector B. receptor, sensory neurone, relay neurone, motor neurone, effector C. effector, motor neurone, relay neurone, sensory neurone, receptor D. receptor, relay neurone, sensory neurone, motor neurone, effector Answer: B
- A synapse is best described as: A. a type of neurone B. a junction between two neurones C. a muscle D. a sense organ Answer: B
- At a synapse, the chemical that diffuses across the gap is called the: A. receptor protein B. vesicle C. neurotransmitter D. impulse Answer: C
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Recommended Books
Further learning from open sources
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Textbook section
Neurons and Glial Cells
List and describe the functions of the structural components of a neuron
"Biology: Neurons and Glial Cells" by OpenStax, OpenStax, Rice University, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://openstax.org/books/biology/pages/35-1-neurons-and-glial-cells. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/biology/pages/1-introduction
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Textbook section
The Central Nervous System
Identify the spinal cord, cerebral lobes, and other brain areas on a diagram of the brain
"Biology: The Central Nervous System" by OpenStax, OpenStax, Rice University, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source: https://openstax.org/books/biology/pages/35-3-the-central-nervous-system. Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/biology/pages/1-introduction
Published by other organisations under open licences, credited as they ask. Links open their websites.
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