DATE: 24/01/24

TITLE: Nervous System

RECALL STARTER

LAST LESSON What is meiosis used for?

LAST WEEK
Draw and label an animal cell.

LAST MONTH or
LAST YEAR
What is a property of group 0?
 knowledge check questions
1. Describe the process of mitosis
2. Name the phases of mitosis in order
3. State what is meant by a ‘stem cell’
4. Suggest where stem cells can be collected from
5. Give one reason scientists and doctors want to use stem cells
6. Some people say the use of stem cells is unethical. Explain why.
7. What parts of the body does the ‘central nervous system’ refer
to?
8. What type of neurone does a signal travel along to the brain?
9. What type of neurone does a nerve impulse travel along to a
muscle or other effector?
10.Describe the role of the myelin sheath on a nerve
11.What happens at a synapse?
 knowledge check Answers

1. Cell makes a copy of each chromosome; chromosomes line up along middle;

chromosomes pulled to each end of the cell; cell splits into two
2. Interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, cytokinesis (I PARTY
MORE AT THE CLUB)
3. An unspecialised, undifferentiated cell = become any type of cell
4. Embryos (and sometimes from adults e.g. in bone marrow)
5. Could be used to grow tissues and organs to help sick people
6. Most are taken from embryos, which could develop into babies and living people
7. Brain and spinal cord
8. Sensory neurone
9. Motor neurone
10. Insulates the nerve = faster transmission
11. Chemicals called neurotransmitters cross the gap
12. Does not go to brain, goes through relay neurone in spinal cord. Faster = less
The nervous system is made up from nerve cells (or neurones).

Neurones have an extended shape to carry impulses to different parts of the body.

There are small

branches at the tips
for communication
with other neurones
Neurones are covered with a myelin sheath which insulates the neurone and speeds up the transmission of impulses.
There are small gaps in the sheath which also allow the impulse to jump along, further increasing speed.
The nervous system works in the following way:
Stimulus receptor  CNS  effector

Receptor – cells in the eye, nose skin etc.

Effector – a muscle or a gland

The receptor sends a stimulus through a sensory neurone.

The CNS signal is sent through a motor neurone.

The gaps between neurones are called
synapses.

1. The nerve impulse arrives at the synapse

2. Neurotransmitters are released into the
synapse
3. Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse
4. Neurotransmitter binds to receptors on the
other side
5. This causes another impulse in the next
neurone
Investigating Reaction Times – Required Practical
1. One student holds a ruler vertically so the zero end points downwards. The other student puts their thumb and fingers in a C
shape around the ruler, level with the zero marking.- This makes the results more vaild
2. Without warning, the first student drops the ruler and the second student has to catch it as quickly as they can.
3. Write down the number just above the second student’s thumb. The lower the number, the faster the reaction time. Write the
number in the results table.
4. Repeat steps 2 to 4 four more times. This makes the results more reliable.
Investigating Reaction Times – Required Practical
You will investigate how music affects reaction time by measuring how quickly you can catch a ruler with no music, and with music
on.
1. Write a hypothesis for your investigation.
2. Copy the results table below to record your results: