Biology Nervous Systems and Plant Responses

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the somatic nervous system?

Prepare the body for high amounts of activity

Regulate the involuntary processes of internal organs

Regulate the rest-and-digest response

Control the activities of skeletal muscles (correct)

Which of the following examples best demonstrates the use of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Preparing for a presentation

Running away from a predator

Digesting a meal after eating (correct)

Reacting to a sudden loud noise

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the autonomic nervous system?

Includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

Regulates involuntary processes

Influences heart rate and digestion

Controls skeletal muscle movement (correct)

What is the primary role of the sympathetic nervous system in the 'fight-or-flight' response?

Preparing the body for intense physical activity (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does the nervous system of mammals compare to that of other vertebrates?

Mammals have the most complex nervous systems among vertebrates (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which sensory modality is NOT directly involved in the act of cooking?

Magnetoreception (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why is the human nervous system considered highly similar to that of other mammals?

All mammals evolved from a common ancestor with a similar nervous system (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems?

The somatic nervous system controls voluntary functions, while the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following stimuli can plants respond to?

Light (A) Signup and view all the answers

What role does amylase play in seed germination?

It initiates starch breakdown. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How do plants generally respond to water levels?

By affecting guard cell turgidity. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which hormone class is primarily involved in plant responses to environmental stimuli?

Hormones (B) Signup and view all the answers

What type of vision allows snakes to detect heat from their prey?

Infrared vision (A) Signup and view all the answers

In what way do animals generally relay sensory information?

Using multiple senses (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the effect of gravity on plants?

It influences root and shoot growth rates. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of touch reception in plants?

To influence growth direction and reaction patterns. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What role do platelets play in the body's response to tissue damage?

They cling to the injured site and release chemicals attracting more platelets. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How do plants typically respond to environmental stimuli?

By employing complex hormonal mechanisms without specialized glands. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of auxins in plants?

Promoting the elongation of plant stems and cell expansion. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What physiological change occurs during inflammation?

Increased blood flow that aids in the delivery of white blood cells. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What role do gibberellins play in plants?

They promote growth, stem elongation, and flowering. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common defense mechanism used by plants against herbivores?

Trapping and digesting small insects. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of cytokinins in plants?

They promote cell division and facilitate the maintenance of meristems. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement describes a sensory receptor's role in animals?

They receive and respond to external stimuli. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Midterm Coverage

Sensory Receptors and Mechanisms in Plants
Sensory Receptors and Mechanisms in Animals
Sensory and Motor Mechanisms in Humans
Homeostasis (Nervous and Endocrine)
Negative Feedback Mechanisms
Positive Feedback Mechanisms

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms in Humans

Humans use all five senses to collect information from the environment

Five Senses

Sight
- The eyes are the photoreceptors in humans
- The major parts of the eye include the cornea, lens, retina, iris, and pupil
- Iris and pupil control the amount of light that enters the eye.
- The retina contains photoreceptors (rods and cones).
- The optic nerve connects the eyes to the brain.
Smell
- The olfactory epithelium (in the nose) contains chemoreceptors that detect substances in the air.
- Olfactory epithelium contains chemoreceptors that detect substances in the air.
Hearing
- The ears detect vibrations in the environment, perceived as sound.
- Outer ear catches vibrations
- Middle ear transmits these vibrations to the inner ear
- Inner ear contains the cochlea, the spiral organ of Corti detecting sound.
Touch
- Mechanoreceptors in the skin detect touch in various forms.
- Different receptors (e.g., free nerve endings, Ruffini's ending, Merkel's disc, Meissner's corpuscle, Pacinian corpuscle) respond to different types of touch pressure
Taste
- Chemoreceptors in the tongue detect substances in food.
- Gustatory cells (in taste buds) detect chemicals in the tongue and release neurotransmitters.

Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment.
Cells are surrounded by fluids (intracellular fluid and interstitial fluid) that need to be maintained to sustain the cell's function.
Variables such as temperature, volume, and chemical substances can change due to external factors and the body responds in order to maintain normal conditions.

Homeostasis components

Sensor/receptor: Monitors the value of a variable, detects changes in the internal or external environment which are called stimulus (stimuli).
- Examples: Baroreceptors (blood pressure), peripheral chemoreceptors (blood pH).
Control center: Establishes the set point around which the variable is maintained, receives information from the sensors and initiates the response to maintain homeostasis.
- Example: Hypothalamus (blood pressure, body temperature)
Effector: Can change the value of the variable, any organ or tissue that collects information from the integrating center and acts to create changes needed to maintain homeostasis.
- Example: Heart (blood pressure), kidney (blood pressure/water levels)

Divisions of the Nervous System

Somatic nervous system: controls voluntary activities (e.g., skeletal muscles)
Autonomic nervous system: controls involuntary activities (e.g., internal organs)
Sympathetic nervous system: triggers the fight-or-flight response
Parasympathetic nervous system: regulates the rest-and-digest response

Homeostatic System Pathway

Communication: Uses nervous and endocrine systems

Afferent Pathway

Communication flows from receptor to control center

Efferent Pathway

Communication flows from control center to effector

Feedback Loops

Negative feedback: Helps maintain homeostasis.
Positive feedback: Amplifies change from a normal range.

Negative Feedback Mechanisms

Examples:
- Temperature regulation
- Osmoregulation

Positive Feedback Mechanisms

Examples:
- Childbirth
- Lactation

Plant Responses

Plants respond to external factors like light, water, and gravity.

Plant Hormones

Auxins: Growth, cell expansion, inducing cell division
Cytokinins: Cell division, differentiation
Gibberellins: Growth, flower development
Ethylene: Fruit ripening, plant aging

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This quiz explores the intricacies of the nervous systems in mammals, including the somatic and autonomic divisions, and delves into plant responses to environmental stimuli. Test your understanding of key concepts such as the 'fight-or-flight' response, sensory modalities, and plant hormone functions.