29/11/2022

The Nervous System

What is the role and organisation of the nervous system?

• All will explain the processes in a reflex arc?

• Most will describe the role and organisation of the nervous

system?
• Some will link receptors and stimuli?

STARTER ACTIVITY
Write a list of words associated with
‘nervous system’
 Key words for your glossary
Add definitions during the lesson or at home
• Stimulus (plural – stimuli)
• Central nervous system
• Peripheral nervous system
• Receptor
• Neuron
• Reflex
• Synapse
• Effector
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i51vgt8GME4
 Somatic nerves make
up the part of the
nervous system we can
control.
Autonomic nerves
make up the part of
the nervous system we
cannot control.

Sympathetic nervous
system: Fight or flight

Parasympathetic
nervous system: Rest
and digest
Why do we need a nervous system?
Reflex Actions
 Stimulus Receptor
(change in the cells in back of eye
environment)
 Stimulus Receptor cells
(change in the in back of eye
environment)

Information from the receptor passes along nerve cells

called neurones to the brain. The brain then
coordinates the response. These can be voluntary or
involuntary – in reflexes they are involuntary.
 Stimulus Receptor cells
(change in the in back of eye
environment)

Reflexes are designed to allow you to respond to a

potentially dangerous situation very quickly. As there is
no time to think, the brain does not need to be
involved. These actions are still coordinated by the CNS,
but by the spinal cord, instead.
 Testing our receptors

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Zc01e1Frw
The reflex arc

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zpkhcj6/revision/2
The pathway of a reflex action does not initially go to
the brain to increase the speed of reactions

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zpkhcj6/revision/2
 What’s happening when we detect a
stimulus which causes a reflex?
Each reflex action takes the follows the pathway:
stimulus  receptor  sensory neurone  relay neurone
 motor neurone  synapses  effector  response

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn2RHLWST-k
 What’s happening when we detect a
stimulus which causes a reflex?
Each reflex action takes the follows the pathway:
stimulus  receptor  sensory neurone  relay neurone
 motor neurone  synapses  effector  response
 HOMEWORK
TASK: Order the reflex arc…
a) A chemical crosses the gap (synapse) between a sensory neurone and a
relay neurone.
b) a motor neurone.
c) A muscle responds by contracting, a gland responds by releasing chemical
substances.
d) A stimulus is a change in the environment of an organism.
e) Impulses from a receptor pass along a sensory neurone………….

f) The motor neurone carries an impulse to an effector……………..

g) Then a chemical crosses the synapse between a relay neurone
and…………….
h) This is detected by a receptor such as the eye.
i) to the central nervous system (the co-ordinator).
j) which can be a muscle or a gland………….
 TASK: Order the reflex arc…
a) A chemical crosses the gap (synapse) between a sensory
neurone and a relay neurone.
b) a motor neurone.
c) A muscle responds by contracting, a gland responds by
releasing chemical substances.
d) A stimulus is a change in the environment of an organism.
e) Impulses from a receptor pass along a sensory
neurone………….
f) The motor neurone carries an impulse to an effector……………..
g) Then a chemical crosses the synapse between a relay neurone
and…………….
h) This is detected by a receptor such as the eye.
i) to the central nervous system (the co-ordinator).
j) which can be a muscle or a gland………….
 Check your answers…
d) A stimulus is a change in the environment of
an organism

h) This is detected by a receptor such as the

eye.

e) Impulses from a receptor pass along a i) to the central nervous system (the co-
sensory neurone…………. ordinator).

a) A chemical crosses the gap (synapse)

between a sensory neurone and a relay
neurone.

g) Then a chemical crosses the synapse

b) a motor neurone.
between a relay neurone and…………….

f) The motor neurone carries an impulse to an

j) which can be a muscle or a gland………….
effector……………..

c) A muscle responds by contracting, a gland

responds by releasing chemical substances.
How Impulses Pass from Neurone to
Neurone – the Synapse

1. An electrical impulse
travels along an axon
How Impulses Pass from Neurone to
Neurone – the Synapse
2. This triggers the nerve-
ending of a neurone to
release chemical messengers
called neurotransmitters
How Impulses Pass from Neurone to
Neurone – the Synapse
3. These chemicals diffuse
across the synapse and bind
with receptor molecules on
the next neurone
How Impulses Pass from Neurone to
Neurone – the Synapse
4. The receptor molecules bind
only to specific chemicals
released. This stimulates the 2nd
neurone to transmit the
electrical impulse
Synapses
 Synapses
1. The connection between 2 neurones is
called a synapse .
2. The nerve signal is transferred by chemicals
which diffuse (move) across the gap.
3. These chemicals then set off a new electrical
signal in the next neurone.

Word Bank: electrical, neurones, chemicals,

synapse, connection, diffuse
 Quick Quiz
1. What are your 5 sense organs? (5 marks)
2. What is a stimulus? (1 mark)
3. What parts of the body does the CNS consist
of? (2 marks)
4. What type of stimulus do your eyes detect?
(1 mark)
5. What type of stimulus does both your nose
and tongue detect? (1 mark)
6. What are receptors? (1 mark)
 Quick Quiz Answers
1. What are your 5 sense organs? (5 marks)
• Eyes
• Ears
• Nose
• Tongue
• Skin
 Quick Quiz Answers
2. What is a stimulus? (1 mark)
• A change in your environment which
you may need to react to

3. What parts of the body does the CNS consist of?

(2 marks)
• Brain
• Spinal Cord
 Quick Quiz Answers
4. What type of stimulus do your eyes detect? (1
mark)
• Light

5. What type of stimulus does both your nose

and tongue detect? (1 mark)
• Chemical
 Quick Quiz Answers
6. What are receptors? (1 mark)
• Groups of cells which are sensitive to
stimulus

Add up how many are

correct (out of 11)
Grade Boundaries
A*= 10
A=9
B=8
C=7
D=6
E=5
F=4
G=3
U = 0-2
 Effectors

Effectors are muscles or glands which carry out a

response.
• A muscle responds by contracting.
• A gland responds by secreting chemical substances.
 Effectors
Fatty deposits which stop the
The end of the neuron is
electrical impulse from leaking away.
branched so that they can
The gaps between allow the impulse
communicate with many other
to “jump” which means it moves
neurons (or effector cells!)
along the neuron rapidly.
Copy the diagram below
of a reflex arc into your
book.

Label:
• a sensory neurone
• a motor neurone
• an intermediate (relay)
neurone
• an axon
• a synapse
• the spinal cord
• a sense organ/receptor
• and an effector muscle

Put arrows on the

neurones to show the
direction of the impulses.