Nervous System
Overview
Touch a pin and your hand is already moving before the sting reaches your awareness. Eat a sugary meal and, without any conscious effort, your blood glucose is brought back under control within the hour. Both are the nervous system at work, but on two very different timescales, one built for speed and one built for chemical signals that linger.
This topic covers the structure of sensory, motor and relay neurones, the basic plan of the central nervous system and the main regions of the brain, the structure of the spinal cord and reflex arc, the body's main receptor types, how an impulse is generated and crosses a synapse, and the hormones released by the pituitary, adrenal and thyroid glands, the pancreas and the gonads, before comparing the nervous and hormonal systems directly.
Objectives
- Know the structure of neurones: sensory, motor and relay
- Know the basic plan of the central nervous system
- Know the main areas of the brain and their functions including the cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, mid brain, pituitary gland and hypothalamus
- Know the structure and functions of the spinal cord and the structure of a reflex arc
- Understand that the body contains receptors that can detect the stimuli for light, temperature, pressure/pain and taste
- Describe the pathway taken by a nerve impulse to cause a response to a stimulus
- Investigate the number and position of sensory receptors, such as touch and temperature receptors in the skin
- Understand how nerve impulses are initiated, the direction of movement of an impulse along a neurone and transmission across a synapse
- Understand the action of hormones from the pituitary (ADH and gonadotrophic hormones), adrenal (adrenaline) and thyroid glands, the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas (insulin and glucagon) and the gonads, and know the role of hormones in growth and development
- Understand the differences between the nervous and hormonal systems
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Nervous System. 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.
- Which type of neurone is found entirely within the central nervous system and connects a sensory neurone to a motor neurone? A) Sensory neurone B) Relay neurone C) Motor neurone D) Effector neurone Answer: B
- Which region of the brain coordinates balance and produces smooth, accurate movement? A) Cerebral hemispheres B) Hypothalamus C) Cerebellum D) Pituitary gland Answer: C
- Which hormone is released by the pancreas to raise blood glucose concentration between meals? A) Insulin B) Glucagon C) Adrenaline D) Thyroxine Answer: B
- A neurotransmitter crosses a synapse by which process? A) Active transport B) Osmosis C) Diffusion D) Filtration Answer: C
- Which of these is a feature of hormonal, but not nervous, control? A) Uses electrical impulses B) Response is very fast C) Signal travels in the blood D) Always targets one specific effector Answer: C
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
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