Lesson 6 - Responding To The Environment - G12 - DR Ross

Lesson 6 - Term 2 - G12 - Dr Ross
Humans
Responding to
the
Environment
Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 1

Human Nervous System
•Central Nervous System - CNS

•Peripheral Nervous System
•Autonomic Nervous System
•Nerve Cells
•Reflex arc
•Disorders
•Injuries
•Drugs
Receptors
• Human Eye
• Human Ear
The nervous
system
(involving
nerves)
which help
us respond
to the
environment

Human Nervous
System Videos:
•https://www.youtube
.com/watch?v=lydJT
6lUe0k
•https://www.youtube
.com/watch?v=r_k-V
lOS2w8
Why is there a need for a Nervous
System in humans?
Because organisms need to detect

and react to stimuli to ‘adapt and
survive in a continuously changing
environment’.
Examples of Stimuli are:
 Light
 Sound
 Touch
 Pressure
 Taste
 Temperature
 Chemicals

System in humans?
Firstly, The Nervous System is needed

as it ‘detects changes in the environment’
which allows the body to react to these
changes.
It is these reactions that help to maintain

a constant internal environment (this is
called HOMEOSTASIS).
Here are examples of what should stay

constant:
 body temperature
 amount of water in the body
 amount of glucose level in the blood
 O2 and CO2 concentrations

System in humans?
Secondly, the Nervous System

allows CO-ORDINATION of the
various activities of the body.
That means that they all work

together.
We may say that co-ordination

is needed ‘for effective
functioning of the body as a
whole’.

Example of co-ordination:
 Imagine a goalkeeper in a game

of football.
 She sees the ball coming
towards her.
 She runs forward, jumps up and
catches the ball. Her running,
jumping and catching, all need to
be coordinated properly.
 It is the Nervous System that
brings about this co-ordination

Involuntary reactions of
the nervous system, take
place automatically, like
sweating or coughing, or
blinking.
Voluntary reactions of the

nervous system, like
walking, dancing, washing
your hands, wearing a
mask and social distancing.

CENTRAL
NERVOUS
SYSTEM

The Central
Nervous System
(CNS) consists of
the:
•Brain and the

•Spinal cord.
I need to learn the
location and functions of
the following parts:
• Brain
• Cerebrum
• Cerebellum
• Corpus callosum
• Medulla oblongata
• Spinal cord
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
The Peripheral Nervous System refers to parts of the

nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord, that is,
outside the CNS.
The FUNCTION of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the

organs, limbs, and skin.
The peripheral nervous system is divided into two major

parts: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic
nervous system.
The somatic nervous system consists of peripheral nerve

fibres that send sensory information to the central nervous
system and motor nerve fibres that project to skeletal
muscle.

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
The Autonomic Nervous System is the part of the

nervous system that supplies the internal organs,
including the blood vessels, stomach, intestine, liver,
kidneys, bladder, genitals, lungs, pupils, heart, and sweat,
salivary, and digestive glands.
The main FUNCTION is to control the sub-conscious

activities of the body (e.g., heartbeat, peristalsis, dilation
of blood vessels).
The autonomic nervous system has two main divisions:

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic.

NEURONS

NEURONS
(SPECIALISED
NERVE CELLS)
All neurons have a/an:
•Nucleus,
•Cell Body,
•Cytoplasm,
•Myelin Sheath,
•Axon
•Dendrites

NEURONS
(SPECIALISED
NERVE CELLS)
Three Main
Neurons
•Sensory
•Motor
•Connector
NEURONS
(SPECIALISED
Functions of Parts of Neurons
NERVE CELLS)
All neurons
The have contains
CELL BODY a/an: the nucleus and cytoplasm with many NISSI granules
DENDRITES carry nerve impulses towards the cell body. There are many fine
endings so that the impulse can be passed onto many cells
•Nucleus,
The MYLELIN SHEATH (a fatty covering) provides electrical INSULATION and
•Cell Body,
helps speeds up the transmission of impulses
•Cytoplasm,
The AXON carries nerve impulses away from the cell body. An AXON is covered
by two membranes:
•Myelin Sheath, the MYELIN SHEATH and a NEURILEMMA
The TERMINAL BRANCHES OF THE AXON makes a synaptic contact with the
•Axon
dendrites of another neuron
•Dendrites

Sensory Neurons
The Function of a
Sensory Neuron is to
carry impulses from
the receptors (nerve
endings or sense
organs) to the CNS
(brains and spinals
cord)

The Structure of Sensory Neurons

How to
draw a
sensory
neuron in
the exam

Motor Neuron
Motor Neurons
The Function of a Motor
Neuron is to carry
impulses from the CNS
to the EFFECTORS
(muscles or glands)

How to
draw a
Motor
Neuron in
the Exam

A Synapse
Neurons do not touch each other to pass on the electrical

impulse. Instead, there is a microscopic GAP (a small
space), called a synaptic gap, a SYNAPSE.

•1. An electrical nerve impulse travels along an
axon
•2. When the nerve impulse reaches the
dendrites at the end of the axon, chemical
messengers called neurotransmitters are
released.
•3. These chemicals diffuse across the synapse
(the gap between the two neurons). The
chemicals bind with receptor molecules on the
membrane of the second neuron.
•4. The receptor molecules on the second
neuron can only bind to the specific
neurotransmitters released from the first neuron.
•5. The binding of neurotransmitter to the
receptors stimulates the second neuron to
transmit an electrical impulse along its axon.
The signal therefore has been carried from one
neuron to the next.

WHAT IS A REFLEX ACTION?
A REFLEX ACTION is a rapid,

automatic (involuntary)
response to a stimulus
received by an organ or other
receptor

REFLEX ACTION
Connector

WHAT IS A
REFLEX ARC?
A REFLEX ARC is
the path taken by an
impulse in bringing
about a response to
a stimulus during a
reflex action
WHAT IS A
REFLEX ARC?
The REFLEX
ARC is the
functional unit
of the nervous
system
THIS IS A REFLEX
ARC
Connector
neuron Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross
Observe each part of a simple reflex arc and
learn the function of each:
 Receptor,
 Sensory Neuron,
 Dorsal Root of Spinal Nerve,
 Spinal Cord,
 Connector
 Motor Neuron,
 Ventral Root of Spinal Nerve, Connector
neuron
 Effector (Organ or muscle).

The path of a reflex arc: Receptor (A) → Sensory neuron (B) → Connector (C) → Motor neuron (D) → Effector (E)
Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross

46
The moving away of your hand after being pricked by a
pin (or from hot surface or) lifting up your foot after
stepping on a thorn or a nail:
An Example of the Functioning
of a Simple REFLEX ACTION:  Receptors in the skin receive the stimulus
 The stimulus is converted into a nerve impulse
 The impulse travels along the sensory neuron towards
the spinal cord along the dorsal root of the spinal nerve
 In the spinal cord, the sensory neuron makes synaptic

contact with the connector/ interneuron
 and then the impulses are transmitted along the motor
neuron along the ventral root of the spinal nerve
 to the effector organ/muscle which contracts and pulls
the hand away
 The reflex action provides a quick response to the

stimulus, so injury is minimised

Exam Style Question:
A boy accidentally steps on a thorn, immediately pulls his injured foot away
and then hops to a nearby bench on the other foot. Describe the reflex action
that takes place
 Pain receptors in the skin of his foot receive the stimulus

 The stimulus of pain is converted into a nerve impulse
 The impulse travels along the sensory neuron towards the spinal cord along the
dorsal root of the spinal nerve
 In the spinal cord, the sensory neuron makes synaptic contact with the
connector neuron and then the impulses are transmitted along the motor neuron
along the ventral root of the spinal nerve
 to the effector organ/muscle which contracts to withdraw his foot
 The reflex action provides a quick response to the stimulus, so injury is

minimised

What is the significance of
a REFLEX ACTION?
REFLEX ACTION is rapid to

protect the hand (or the
foot) from further injury
(Reflex Action prevents
overloading of the higher
centres in the brain).

Questions:
1. What happens when the sensory neuron is cut or damaged?
Impulse cannot reach the CNS Body is unaware of stimulus/cannot feel the stimulus. No reflex action.
Causing harm to body
2. What happens when the motor neuron is cut or damaged?
Can feel the stimulus. Cannot respond to the stimulus. No reflex action. Causing harm to the organism
3. What happen when the connector neuron is cut or damaged?
No stimulus can be felt. No response to stimulus No reflex action. Causing harm to the organism
4. What is the significance of a synapse?
Allows the impulse to travel in one direction only. Prevents overstimulation of the membrane. Allows
unnecessary or unimportant background stimuli to be filtered out. Channel impulses so that the
reactions are integrated and become part of learning and memory

connector

DISORDERS OF
THE CNS
 ALZHEIMER'S
DISEASE
 MULTIPLE
SCLEROSIS
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS
Cause of Alzheimer's Disease

The nerve tissue within the brain
wastes away
Plaque is formed between neurons
Bundles of nerve fibres become
entangled in the brain
A shortage of acetylcholine occurs
at the synapses
Symptoms of Alzheimer's
Disease
Memory loss and confusion
Alzheimer’s sufferers forget even
the most basic things such as
cleaning teeth, household chores,
driving

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
CAUSES AND
SYMPTOMS
Cause of Multiple Sclerosis
•The body’s own immune system attacks
and destroys the myelin sheath covering
the neurons
•Genetics, infections and environmental
factors seem to be involved in the cause
Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

•Physical disabilities, such as
•inability to walk
•numbness in legs and arms
• fatigue and weakness

Lesson 6 - Responding To The Environment - G12 - DR Ross

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Lesson 6 - Term 2 - G12 - Dr Ross

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 1

•Central Nervous System - CNS

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 4

Because organisms need to detect

Examples of Stimuli are:

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 6

Firstly, The Nervous System is needed

It is these reactions that help to maintain

Here are examples of what should stay

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 7

Secondly, the Nervous System

That means that they all work

We may say that co-ordination

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 8

 Imagine a goalkeeper in a game

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 9

Voluntary reactions of the

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 10

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 11

•Brain and the

The Peripheral Nervous System refers to parts of the

The FUNCTION of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the

The peripheral nervous system is divided into two major

The somatic nervous system consists of peripheral nerve

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 19

The Autonomic Nervous System is the part of the

The main FUNCTION is to control the sub-conscious

The autonomic nervous system has two main divisions:

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 21

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 23

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 24

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 26

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 28

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 29

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 30

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 31

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 33

Neurons do not touch each other to pass on the electrical

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 34

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 37

A REFLEX ACTION is a rapid,

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 38

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 39

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 45

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross

 In the spinal cord, the sensory neuron makes synaptic

 The reflex action provides a quick response to the

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 48

 Pain receptors in the skin of his foot receive the stimulus

 The reflex action provides a quick response to the stimulus, so injury is

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 49

REFLEX ACTION is rapid to

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 50

1. What happens when the sensory neuron is cut or damaged?

2. What happens when the motor neuron is cut or damaged?

3. What happen when the connector neuron is cut or damaged?

4. What is the significance of a synapse?

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 51

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 54

Cause of Alzheimer's Disease

Lesson 6 - Nervous System - G12 - Dr Ross 57

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis