The Nervous System, Synapses & Reflexes

This lesson covers:

  1. The structure of the nervous system
  2. How synapses work
  3. How reflex arcs work
Illustration showing a nerve cell with synapses.

What passes along nerve cells?

Light pulses

Electrical impulses

Heat

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Illustration showing the gap between two neurones with a question mark.

What is the gap between two neurones called?

Synapse

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What is released across a synapse?

Blood

Electricity

Chemicals 

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Which of these is part of the central nervous system (CNS)?

(Select all that apply)

Skin

Spinal cord

Liver

Brain

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What is the role of a receptor?

To detect a stimulus

To transfer a signal from a sensory neurone to a motor neurone

To transfer a signal from a receptor to the CNS

To transfer a signal from the CNS to an effector

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What is the role of a sensory neurone?

To detect a stimulus

To transfer a signal from the CNS to an effector

To transfer a signal from a receptor to the CNS

To transfer a signal from a sensory neurone to a motor neurone

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What is the role of a motor neurone?

To transfer a signal from the CNS to an effector

To transfer a signal from a receptor to the CNS

To detect a stimulus

To transfer a signal from a sensory neurone to a motor neurone

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What is the role of a relay neurone?

To transfer a signal from a sensory neurone to a motor neurone

To transfer a signal from the CNS to an effector

To transfer a signal from a receptor to the CNS

To detect a stimulus

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What is a reflex?

A voluntary response to a stimulus

An automatic response to a stimulus

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The pathway of a reflex arc


automatic / response / sensory neurone / stimulus / motor neurone / reflex


âž” receptor âž” âž” relay neurone âž” âž” effector âž”

stimulus
sensory neurone
motor neurone
response

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What are the two main types of effectors? 

Muscles

Glands

Sense organs 

Brain

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Reflexes are:

Fast

Slow

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Conscious

Automatic

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Which of the following are reflexes?

(Select all that apply)

Blinking when you get dust in your eye

Sitting down

Sneezing 

Picking up a pen

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Why are reflexes important? 

They protect us from harm

They are controlled by hormones 

They last a long time

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Diagram showing part of a reflex arc with a focus on the indicated structure.

The diagram above shows part of a reflex arc. Which structure is being indicated?

Relay neurone 

Sensory neurone

Receptor 

Effector

Motor neurone

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Diagram showing part of a reflex arc with an indicated structure.

The diagram above shows the part of a reflex arc. Which structure is being indicated?

Effector

Receptor 

Sensory neurone

Motor neurone

Relay neurone 

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Diagram showing the part of a reflex arc with an indicated structure.

The diagram above shows the part of a reflex arc. Which structure is being indicated?

Relay neurone 

Receptor 

Effector

Sensory neurone

Motor neurone

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Diagram showing part of a reflex arc with a question mark indicating a specific structure.

The diagram above shows the part of a reflex arc. Which structure is being indicated?

Motor neurone

Effector

Receptor 

Sensory neurone

Relay neurone 

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