Mammalian nervous system

14.1

What the syllabus asks of you

State that the nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves) coordinates and regulates body functions
Describe the mammalian nervous system in terms of: (a) the central nervous system (CNS) consisting of the brain and the spinal cord (b) the peripheral nervous system (PNS) consisting of the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
Identify, on diagrams, sensory, relay and motor neurones
State that electrical impulses travel along neurones
Describe simple reflex arcs in terms of receptor, sensory neurone, relay neurone, motor neurone and effector (muscles and glands)
Describe a reflex action as a rapid and automatic response to a stimulus
Describe a synapse as a junction between two neurones
Describe the structure of a synapse, including the presence of vesicles containing neurotransmitter molecules, the synaptic gap and receptor proteins
Describe the events at a synapse: (a) an impulse stimulates the release of neurotransmitter molecules from vesicles into the synaptic gap (b) the neurotransmitter molecules diffuse across the gap and bind with receptor proteins (c) an impulse is stimulated in the next neurone
State that synapses ensure that impulses travel in one direction only

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Chapter 14: Mammalian nervous system

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