Sec 4 SMTP Biology 2023

Worksheet 4: THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Question 1

(a) Nerve cell: a structural unit of nervous tissue that contains a cell
body with a nucleus and long cytoplasmic processes that extend
to / from it

Nerve fibre: long, thin fibres of cytoplasm that transmit impulses

from / towards the cell body of neurone

Nerve: a tough structure consisting of many nerve fibres bundled

together

(b) Each neurone has long cytoplasmic processes that enable them to
transmit electrical impulses rapidly.

Nerve fibre is myelinated except at nodes of Ranvier, resulting in

electrical impulses ‘jumping’ from one node to the next, speeding
up conduction (saltatory conduction).

Many branching dendrites increase surface area to receive

impulses from receptors / previous neurone.

(c) (i) SN: Axon shorter than dendron

MN: Axon longer than dendron (dendron is not obvious)

(ii) SN: conducts impulses from receptor towards the central

nervous system
MN: conducts impulses away from the central nervous system
to effector

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Question 2

dendrites
short
axon short
dendron

long
long nerve axon
dendron impulse
axon

dendrites

(a) A: sensory neurone B: motor neurone

(b) 1: axon terminal branch

2: cell body
3: dendron
4: axon
5: axolemma (axon cell membrane)
6: myelin sheath
7: node of Ranvier
8: synaptic knob
9: dendrite

(d) Structure 7
Nature: gap between two myelinated segments of an
axon/dendron
Significance: allows electrical impulse to ‘jump’ from one node to
another (saltatory conduction), speeding up conduction

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 SSMT
Voltage-gated sodium ion channels are concentrated at the nodes
of Ranvier, allowing sodium ions to diffuse in causing
depolarisation. Local current flow along the myelinated region
causes sodium ion channels to open at the next node of Ranvier.

Structure 8
Nature: bulbous (swollen) endings of axons that synapse with
muscle fibres
Significance: allows for synaptic transmission to the effector by
releasing neurotransmitters that set off an impulse in the next
neurone

SSMT
Releases neurotransmitters when nervous impulse triggers the
opening of voltage-gated calcium ion channels, resulting in the
exocytosis of vesicles containing neurotransmitters

Question 3

(a) A – medulla oblongata

C – hypothalamus
D – cerebrum / cerebral hemisphere
F – cerebellum

(b) (i) D (cerebrum) – grey matter in outer region (cortex)

G (spinal cord) – grey matter in central region

(ii) D controls voluntary actions / actions under conscious control

G controls reflex / involuntary actions / actions not under
conscious control

(c) Formation of blood clot, thus oxygen and nutrients (glucose) are
not delivered to nerve cells. Respiration cannot occur, thus ATP is
not produced.

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(d) (i) Loss of control of many motor responses / voluntary actions /
loss of sensation / impaired learning and reasoning

(ii) Loss of co-ordination of body movement and balance

(e) Rods and cones

(Primary function of midbrain is the control of eye movement, but
it also relays signals for auditory and visual reflexes)

Question 4

(a) A – relay neurone

B – synapse
C – motor / effector neurone
D – sensory neurone

(b) Axon

(c) D  A  B  C

(d) Reflex action

Response is rapid and immediate to protect from danger / injury

(e) He will be aware of the prick.

Relay neurones in spinal cord send impulses to brain so sensation
of pain is felt.

(f) Cut neurone: D

Pain felt? No
Reflex movement of arm? No
Electrical impulse is not transmitted to the brain via relay neurone.
No impulse is transmitted via motor neurone, thus no action
potential is generated in the effector (muscles). No muscle
contraction occurs.
(Reject: no action potential reaches the muscle - action potential
does not cross the synapse)

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 Cut neurone: C
Pain felt? Yes
Reflex movement of the arm? No
Electrical impulse is not transmitted via motor neurone. No action
potential is generated in the effector (muscles) thus no muscle
contraction occurs. An action potential is transmitted to the brain
via the relay neurone, thus there is awareness of pain.

Question 5

(a) Sensory neurone

(b) A - dendrite
B - cell body
C - axon
D - axon terminal branch

(c) B in dorsal root ganglion

D in grey matter

Question 6

(a) No release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junction

No opening of chemically-gated cation channels on motor end
plate (SSMT only)
Sodium ions cannot diffuse into the muscle cell, thus no action
potential is generated in the muscle fibre
Muscle fibre does not contract, resulting in paralysis

(b) Massive release of acetylcholine that binds to the receptor on the

motor end plate will trigger continual opening of chemically-gated
cation channels (SSMT only)
Continual inward diffusion of sodium ions triggers opening of
voltage-gated sodium ion channels
Continuous generation of action potential in skeletal muscle fibres
Muscle fibre contracts uncontrollably (muscle spasm)

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Question 7

(a) The spinal cord contains relay neurones that carry electrical
impulses to the brain from the receptors, and from the brain to
the effectors
Impulses cannot be transmitted to the brain from the parts of the
body below the point of injury / from the brain to the parts of the
body below the point of injury
Since C3 is located higher than L1, an injury at C3 will result in
greater damage to the body, e.g. diaphragm muscles may be
paralysed leading to respiratory arrest, and breathing ceases.

(b) Loss of myelin sheath will result in the loss of saltatory conduction
/ impulse cannot ‘jump’ from one node of Ranvier to another.
Loss of the insulating myelin sheath may also cause sodium ions to
diffuse out of the axon more easily / leakage of charge, thus the
action potential may die out.
Nervous impulse transmission is slowed down, thus muscle
contraction occurs at a lower frequency.

Question 8

Suggest how amyloid plaque and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain

cause memory loss.

Plaques form between neurones, blocking synaptic transmission. Less

neurotransmitters may be released and bind to receptors on
postsynaptic neurone, hence no / lower frequency of generation of
action potential in the neurone.