The nervous system and homeostasis

• What does the nervous system enable humans to do?

  React to surroundings and coordinate behavior
• What are the two main components of the nervous system?

  Central nervous system and network of nerves
• What is homeostasis?

  Regulation of internal conditions in organisms
• What does homeostasis in the human body control?

  Blood glucose, body temperature, and water levels
• What are the components of the control systems in homeostasis?

  • Receptor cells detect stimuli (changes in the environment)
  • Coordination centres (such as the brain, spinal cord or pancreas) process information
  • Effectors (muscles or glands) produce responses
• What are reflex actions of the nervous system?

  Automatic and rapid responses not involving the brain
• Why are reflex actions important for survival?

  They help prevent damage to the body
• What do neurones carry around the body?

  Electrical impulses
• What is the role of relay neurones?

  Connect sensory neurones to motor neurones
• What are synapses?

  Gaps between neurones that allow electrical impulses in the nervous system to cross between neurones
• What are the two parts of the central nervous system?

  Brain and spinal cord
• What is the pathway of a nervous response?

  1. Stimulus
  2. Receptor
  3. Coordinator
  4. Effector
  5. Response