nervous system, synapses, reflexes

what passes along nerve cells

electrical impulses

gap between two neurones is called

a synapse

what is released across a synapse

when an electrical impulse reaches the end of a neurone it causes the release of chemicals (neurotransmitters). These chemicals then diffuse across the synapse and stimulate the next neurone to carry another electrical impulse.

what is the central nervous system

spinal cord and brain

what is the role of a receptor

to detect a stimulus

what is the role of a sensory neurone

transfers a signal from a receptor to the CNS

what is the role of a motor neurone

to transfer a signal from the CNS to an effector

what is the role of a relay neurone

transfer a signal from a sensory neurone to a motor neurone

what is a reflex

an automatic response to a stimulus

the pathway of a reflex arc

stimulus → receptor → sensory neurone → relay neurone → motor neurone → effector → response

two main types of effectors

muscles and glands

reflexes are (slow/ fast, automatic/conscious)

fast and automatic because they don’t in love conscious parts of the brain

examples of reflexes

sneezing, blinking when you get dust in your eye

why are reflexes important

protect us from harm

receptor

sensory neurone

relay neurone

effector