BBC - GCSE Bitesize - The nervous system

Science
The nervous system
The nervous system allows the body to respond, through effectors, to changes in the environment detected by receptors. The process involves neurones and is usually coordinated by the brain. A reflex action is an extra-rapid response to a stimulus: this process also involves the nervous system but it bypasses the brain.

Receptors and effectors

Receptors
Receptors are groups of specialised cells. They can detect changes in the environment, which are called stimuli , and turn them into electrical impulses. Receptors are often located in the sense organs , such as the ear, eye and skin. Each organ has receptors sensitive to particular kinds of stimulus.

Different receptors sense organs receptors sensitive to touch, pressure, pain and temperature

Skin

chemicals in food

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BBC - GCSE Bitesize - The nervous system

Tongue

chemicals in the air

Nose

light

Eyes

sound and position of the head

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BBC - GCSE Bitesize - The nervous system

Ears

The central nervous system (CNS) in humans consists of the brain and spinal cord. When a receptor is stimulated, it sends a signal along the nerve cells - neurones - to the brain. The brain then co-ordinates the response.

Effectors
An effector is any part of the body that produces the response. Here are some examples of effectors:

a muscle contracting to move the arm a muscle squeezing saliva from the salivary gland a gland releasing a hormonehormone: chemical messengers produced in glands and carried by the blood to specific organs in the body into the blood.

Neurones
Neurones are nerve cells. They carry information as tiny electrical signals. There are three different types of neurones, each with a slightly different function:

1. sensory neurones carry signals from receptors receptor : organ which recognizes and responds to stimuli to the spinal cord and brain. 2. relay neurones carry messages from one part of the CNS CNS : Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord). to another.
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BBC - GCSE Bitesize - The nervous system

3. motor neurones carry signals from the CNS to effectorseffector : organ which has an effect when stimulated (eg muscles or glands).
The diagram below shows a typical neurone: in this case, a motor neurone. It has tiny branches at each end (the dendron) and a long fibre carries the signals (the axon ).

A motor neurone

The axon is surrounded by a fatty layer known as the myelin sheath . This helps to protect the neurone and allow impulses to travel faster.

Synapses
Where two neurones meet, there is a tiny gap called a synapse. Signals cross this gap using chemicals released by a neurone. The chemical diffuses across the gap makes the next neurone transmit an electrical signal.

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BBC - GCSE Bitesize - The nervous system

1. An electrical impulse travels along an axon. 2. This triggers the nerve-ending of a neuron to release chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. 3. These chemicals diffuse across the synapse (the gap) and bind with receptor molecules on the membrane of the next neuron. 4. The receptor molecules on the second neuron bind only to the specific chemicals released from the first neuron. This stimulates the second neuron to transmit the electrical impulse
The animation below shows a synapse between two neurons:

Reflex actions
When a receptor is stimulated, it sends a signal to the central nervous system, where the brain co-ordinates the response. But sometimes a very quick response is needed, one that does not need the involvement of the brain. This is a reflex action. Reflex actions are rapid and happen without us thinking. For example, you would pull your hand away from a hot flame without thinking about it. The animation below allows you to step through each stage of the reflex arc. This is what happens:

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BBC - GCSE Bitesize - The nervous system

1. 2. 3. 4.

receptor detects a stimulus - change in the environment sensory neurone sends signal to relay neurone motor neurone sends signal to effector effector produces a response

The way the iris in our eye adjusts the size of the pupil in response to bright or dim light is also a reflex action. In bright light:

Radial muscles of the iris relax. Circular muscles of the iris contract. Less light enters the eye through the contracted pupil.
In dim light:

Radial muscles of the iris contract. Circular muscles of the iris relax. More light enters the eye through the dilated pupil.
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