Maris Stella High School Name: ___________________

GCE O Level Science Biology Class (Index No.): Sec 4__ ( )

GEP LESSON 2 Date: ________________

Nervous system & Hormones

1(a) Define the term “reflex action”. [2]

(b) Label and annotate the drawing below to illustrate all structures (including parts of cells) and the
processes involved in the knee-jerk reflex. [7]

(c) Describe how the structure of a neurone is adapted to its function. [4]

(d) State three ways in which this action differs from a deliberate decision to lower the arm. [3]
2. A boy carried out a period of exercise during his physical education lesson before he took his lunch.
Figure 2.1 shows the changes in the levels of glucose and insulin in the blood of the boy over a 5 hour
period.

Figure 2.1
(a) Using the information given on the graph,
(i) state the changes that occurred with respect to blood glucose during the period of exercise. [1]

(ii) explain why those changes in (i) occurred. [2]

(b) Describe briefly the processes that are occurring in the gut to cause the change in blood glucose
levels from hour 2 to hour 3.5. [2]

(c) Account for the changes that occurred in the blood insulin level after the meal
(ie from hour 2 to hour 5). [4]
1 (a) Immediate response to a specific stimulus; without conscious control;
(b)

(Knee Jerk reflex is a special spinal reflex action that does not involved a relay neurone within the spinal cord
Do take note that you need to know the reflex arc that involves:
(via sensory neurone) Receptor (Via Relay Neurone) CNS(Brain/Spinal Cord)  (Via motor neurone) Effector

(c) Cytoplasmic processes/extensions/nerve fibres allow for cell to be long to transmit impulses for long
distances;
Between receptors, central nervous system and effectors;
Axons & dendrons are coated with myelin sheath which provides insulation;
Presence of nodes of Ranvier speeds up transmission of signals;

(d) 1.Action is involuntary and is not under conscious control, while the deliberate decision is under
consciouscontrol;
2.Action only involves spinal cord, while the deliberate decision involves both brain and spinal cord;
3.Action due to external stimulus, while the deliberate decision is due to impulses generated from the
brain;

2ai) Blood glucose levels increased from 92 to 100 mg/100 cm3 then decreased to 84 mg/100 cm3;
ii) The initial increase in blood glucose concentration was due to the breakdown of glycogen stored in the liver
into glucose; (glucagon action)
The decrease in the blood glucose concentration was due to the body cells (especially skeletal muscle) which
absorbed and used the glucose for respiration;

b) There is digestion of carbohydrates by enzymes in the gut after a meal which produces glucose as a product;
The glucose would enter the capillaries in the villi of the small intestine causing a rise in blood glucose levels from
90 to 140 mg/100cm3;

c) Blood insulin levels rise from hour 2 to hour 3.5, from 20 to 150 units/cm3, due to the rise in blood glucose
levels;
Which stimulates the islet cells of the pancreas to secrete insulin;
Insulin would cause the lowering of blood glucose levels;
By increasing uptake of glucose by adipose tissue and muscle, and the conversion of glucose into glycogen by
the liver and muscle / any one effect of insulin;
The lowering of blood glucose levels from hour 3.5 to hour 5 stimulates the pancreas to decrease its secretion of
insulin;
And insulin in the blood is destroyed in the liver, decreasing the levels of blood insulin down to 30 units/cm3;