11797264
Description
Flashcards by Grace Fawcitt, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Grace Fawcitt
almost 7 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| AQA A Level Psychology- Biopsychology | Key Terms and Definitions |
| AS Level Content | AS Level Content |
| Nervous and Endocrine Systems Key Term | Nervous Systems Definition |
| Central Nervous System (CNS) | This nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The brain is the centre of all conscious awareness. The spinal cord is responsible for reflex actions, transmits messages to/from the brain, and connects nerves to the PNS. |
| Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) | The PNS transmits messages from the outside world to the CNS, and messages from the CNS to muscles and glands. It is divided into the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system. |
| Somatic Nervous System | Transmits information from receptor cells in the sense organs to the CNS. It controls muscle movement. |
| Autonomic Nervous System | Transmits information between internal body organs. It operates involuntarily (automatic) and govern vital functions in the body like breathing and digestion. It is divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. |
| Endocrine System | Made up of glands which release chemical substances called hormones. This system works slower than the nervous system, but has a long lasting and strong effect. |
| Glands | Organs in the body which synthesise hormones. |
| Hormones | Chemical substances released into the bloodstream by glands that, alongside the nervous system, control vital bodily functions. |
| Pituitary gland | Often referred to as the 'master gland', this gland is found in the brain and controls the release of hormones by all other glands. |
| Sympathetic state | During the fight or flight response, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, leading to increased heart rate and breathing, and inhibited digestion. |
| Parasympathetic state | This is the body's 'resting' state. Essentially, it is the opposite of the sympathetic state: steady heart rate and breathing, and normal digestion. |
| Fight or flight response | When stressed, the hypothalamus triggers the sympathetic state. The adrenal medulla then releases the hormone adrenaline. The sympathetic state and adrenaline makes the body physiologically aroused, ready to jump into action. |
| Adrenaline | Adrenaline is a hormone released by the adrenal medulla, a part of the adrenal gland. It has a powerful effect, especially on the cardiovascular system. For example, it increases heart rate and contracts blood vessels. |
| Neurons and Synaptic Transmission Key Term | Neurons and Synaptic Transmission Definition |
| Neuron | Nerve cells that process and transmit messages both electrically (within neurons) and chemically (between neurons). |
| Sensory neurons | Carry messages from the PNS to the CNS. They have long dendrites and short axons. |
| Motor neurons | Carry messages from the CNS to the effectors (muscles and glands). They have short dendrites and long axons. |
| Relay neurons | Connect sensory neurons to motor neurons. They have short dendrites and short axons. |
| Dendrites | Branch-like structures which protrude from the cell body and carry nerve impulses from neighbouring neurons to the cell body. |
| Axon and myelin sheath | The axon carries the nerve impulse from the cell body along the neuron. The myelin sheath insulates the axon, hence speeding up transmission. |
| Terminal buttons | Found at the end of the neuron, they transmit the nerve impulse from one neuron to the next via synaptic transmission. |
| Action potential | In its resting state, a neuron is negatively charged. If activated by a stimulus, the neuron becomes positively charged. This causes an action potential, creating an electrical impulse that will travel down the axon to the end of the neuron. |
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