Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond

receptor and effector to changes in their environment

The nervous system: Sensitivity

Starter
• Add the missing vowels to find todays
keywords:

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• Brn Year 10 revision: Recall the
• Spnl Crd definition of sensitivity
Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector
1/21/21
Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

Definition!
Sensitivity: the ability to detect or sense changes in the environment
(stimuli) and to make responses
• All living things respond to changes (stimuli). Living things
notice changes in their surroundings and react to them.

• Eg. Plants grow towards the light.

• Eg. People react to the temperature around them.

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector

 Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

Controlling the body

The two main systems that control the body are the:

• Endocrine system (hormones)

• Nervous system

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector

1/21/21
 Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

Why do we have a nervous system?

Why do we have a nervous system?
To make us nervous before we take exams?

So that our little brother can get on our

nerves?

To help us react to our surroundings and

co-ordinate our behaviour?

Scientists would say that the last answer is correct, but people use the word ‘nerves’ in
many different ways.

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector

1/21/21
 Nose (smell)
Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

Eyes (sight)

Ear (sound)
A coordinated response
requires a:

Stimulus
Receptor
Effector

Task 1: Using the picture, list the

receptors and what they detect Mouth (taste)
(stimuli) Skin (touch, pain, pressure, temp)
Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector
1/21/21
Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

Controlling the body

A stimulus is a change in an organism surroundings.

A receptor is something which detects these changes (stimuli). They

transduce the stimulus energy into electrical impulses.

An effector is a muscle or gland that brings about a response to a stimulus.

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector

Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

Test yourself
• What receptor detects changes in light intensity?
• What stimulus would be detected by your fingers if you placed them over
a Bunsen burner?
• What effector would carry out the response of fight or flight?
• Name another effector
• Name another sense organ

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector

Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

Receptor Type of energy transduced

Eye (retina) Light
Ear (organ of hearing) Sound
Ear (organ of balance) Mechanical (kinetic)
Tongue (taste buds) Chemical
Nose (organ of smell) Chemical
Skin (touch/pressure/pain receptors) Mechanical (kinetic)

Skin (temperature receptors) Heat

Muscle (stretch receptors) Mechanical (kinetic)

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector

Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

What 2 parts of the body are involved

in the Central Nervous system?

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector

01/21/2021
Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

Task 3:
If you had to make the choice
between putting pegs on your face
and on your leg… what would you
choose and why?

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector

Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

Task
• Task: What do you think this
picture shows?

• Some areas of the

body are more sensitive than
others because they
have more nerve endings.

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector

Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

• Looking at this picture what other areas

of our body are very sensitive?

Example: It hurts when you bite your

tongue because the sides of your tongue
have a lot of nerve endings that are
very sensitive to pain.

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector

Define the concepts of stimulus, Understand that organisms are able to respond
receptor and effector to changes in their environment

Thumbs up or down
Complete PPQ on sensitivity

Keywords: sensitivity stimulus receptor effector