Coordination and response - Biology

Main function : Controlling and coordinating all parts of body

The nervous system of a mammal consists of :
The central nervous system (CNS) comprising the brain and the spinal cord.
The peripheral nervous system (PNS) comprising the 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs
spinal nerves that detect stimuli and send impulses to the CNS.

Receptor cells are cells that detect some changes about its environment. Eg: temperature
receptors in the skin
Sensory organs
The organs in the body that detects just one stimulus. Eg. Eye
Effectors
The organs and glands that respond to stimuli. Eg. Muscles and glands

Neurones
A neurone is a nerve cell. A nerve fibre is a long protoplasmic extensions of the cell body of a
neurone. It serves to transmit electrical impulses.

A nerve is a collection of nerve fibres.

There are 3 types of neurones which have been divided on the base of structure and
function:
1. Sensory neurone/ afferent neurone
It is a receptor neurone.
It has long dendrites but a short axon.
It transmits impulses from the sense organ(receptor) to the CNS.

2. Motor neurone/efferent neurone

It is an effector neurone.
It has a number of dendrites and a long axon.
It transmits impulses from the CNS to the effectors.

3. Relay neurone/Inter neurone

It has a number of dendrites and a short axon.

It is limited to the CNS( basically makes up the CNS)
It connects sensory neurones to motor neurones.

Synapse

A synapse is a junction between two neurones( the end plate of the former neurone and
the dendrite of the latter neurone)
As the nerve impulse (which is an electrical impulse) arrives at the end plate, a
neurotransmitter which is a chemical is released from the vesicles into the synapse( the
gap) that restarts the electrical impulse at the latter neurone and transmission of the
signal is continued.
Dendrites

Dendrites are short threads of cytoplasm coming out of the cell body and pick up the
impulses from other cells and transmit towards the cell body of a neurone.

Axon

An axon transmits impulses away from the cell body of a neurone.

Myelin sheath

Myelin sheath provides the insulation to the axon assuring the efficient transmission of
the impulse in one direction.

Reflex

Reflex action

Reflex actions involves messages being quickly transmitted from the sensory neurone to
a motor neurone without involving the conscious part of the brain, thus helps in survival
or causing less damage.
Eg. If your finger touches a hot surface, temperature receptors in the skin of your finger
detect a stimulus, which is a sudden rise in temperature. The receptor uses the energy
of the stimulus to generate electrical impulses. These impulses are then carried by the
dendrites of the sensory neurone to the cell body and then through axon to the CNS. At
the CNS the electrical impulses travel through the synapse to the relay neurone, which
passes it on to the motor neurone. The impulses are then transmitted to the target
muscle; biceps which contract in response to the stimulus, resulting in your finger being
pulled away from the hot surface.

Reflex arc

Reflex arc is the shortest pathway by which impulses travel from the receptor to the
effector in a reflex action.

Innate reflexes vs Conditioned reflexes

Innate reflexes
Reflexes you are born with. They are genetically or developmentally programmed.
Eg. Withdrawing from pain
Suckling
Chewing
Tracking objects with eyes

Acquired reflexes
Reflexes that are learned motor pattern. More complex than innate reflexes.
Eg. Slamming on the break while driving
Professional sportsmen performing skills adjusting the body quickly