The Human Nervous System (AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy: Biology): Exam Questions

1 hour10 questions
1a2 marks

Name the two organs of the Central Nervous System (CNS)

1b3 marks

Complete the sentence.

Choose answers from the box.

nerve impulses            stimuli           chemicals       

 hormones           electrical signals           information

Neurones carry __________ in the form of __________ called ____________.

1c1 mark

Figure 1 shows the structure of two neurones What type of neurone is neurone A?

Figure 1

neurones-1
  • Relay neurone

  • Sensory neurone

  • Motor neurone

  • Reflex neurone

1d1 mark

Motor neurones carry electrical impulses from the CNS to effectors. Muscles are one type of effector, name another type of effector.

Did this page help you?

2a3 marks

The following terms are all components involved in passing a signal along the nervous system.

    coordinator                       receptor                   response 

 effector                            stimulus           

Give the correct order of components during a nervous response.

2b1 mark

Which sense organ contains receptor cells that respond to changes in light?

2c1 mark

Figure 2 shows the junction between two neurones.

Figure 2

neurones_receptors

What is this junction called?

  • Reflex arc

  • Synapse

  • Motor neurone

  • Relay neurone

2d3 marks

Many general anaesthetics inhibit the release of signalling chemicals (called neurotransmitters) across some synapses.

Explain what impact this would have on the nerve impulse.

Did this page help you?

3a1 mark

Which of the following statements is/are true?

  1. A nerve impulse is carried across a synapse by an electrical signal.

  2. Motor neurones carry chemical signals from the CNS to effectors.

  3. Reflexes involve the conscious part of the brain.

  • 1, 2 and 3

  • 1 and 3

  • 2 and 3

  • None of them.

3b1 mark

Figure 3 shows part of the nervous system involved in a reflex action when a person steps on a sharp pin.

Figure 3

leg-cross-section-1

Name part X.

3c2 marks

Reflexes in the eyes cause a blink if something quickly comes towards them.

Explain why such reflexes are important.

3d
Sme Calculator
2 marks

The average speed of a nerve impulse in the human body is 100 metres per second.

A man, who is 2 metres tall, accidentally stubs his toe in the dark.

Calculate the time it takes the nerve impulse to travel to his brain.

Give your answer in milliseconds; 1 000 milliseconds = 1 second.

Use the equation:

T i m e space equals space fraction numerator D i s t a n c e over denominator S p e e d end fraction

Did this page help you?

44 marks

Two students investigate reaction times by performing the 'ruler drop test' as shown in Figure 4.

Student A drops the ruler and student B catches the ruler, the distance measured indicates the reaction time.

Figure 4

measuring-reaction-time-1-1

Both students tested their reaction times, the results are shown in Table 1

Table 1

Test number

Distance (cm) dropped for Student A

Distance (cm) dropped for Student B

1

9

10

2

8

8

3

11

7

4

9

7

5

8

9

6

9

7

Average distance (mean)

X

Y

Calculate the values of X and Y and explain which student had the slower average reaction time.

Did this page help you?

1a1 mark

Nerve tissues that communicate with muscles contain a receptor called the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Figure 1 shows how a nerve impulse passing along neurone X causes an impulse to be passed along a motor neurone.

The motor neurone in Figure 1 is connected to the diaphragm, a muscle involved in breathing.

Figure 1

synapse-and-relay-neurone-1a

Name the type of neurone labelled X.

1b4 marks

Describe the series of events that would result in the diaphragm contracting, from X onwards.

Refer to Figure 1 in your answer.

1c3 marks

Anatoxin is a neurotoxin that is also known as ‘Very Fast Death Factor’ because when it was injected into mice it induced paralysis and death within a few minutes.

Anatoxin is similar in shape to the neurotransmitter that usually binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Suggest how anatoxin can lead to death.

Did this page help you?

2
Sme Calculator
3 marks

When cycling, a cyclist's body temperature increases.

Describe how body temperature is monitored by the brain.

Did this page help you?

32 marks

The nerve pathway linking the light receptors in the retina of the eye to the eyelid muscle is about 0.5 m metres in length.

It would take a nervous impulse 0.006 seconds to travel this distance along neurones.

However it takes about 0.3 seconds for the blink reflex response to the ball to occur.

Explain the difference.

Did this page help you?

1a3 marks

Name the three different types of neurone.

1b2 marks

Give two examples of effectors.

1c1 mark

Which type of cells detect stimuli?

Did this page help you?

2a3 marks

A person is playing a game tennis and hits the ball back over the net with their racket.

Suggest what the stimulus, receptors and effectors are in this action.

2b2 marks

The CNS is termed a coordination centre.

Describe what a coordination centre is.

2c3 marks

Figure 1 represents a pathway of how the nervous system responds during a voluntary response.

Figure 1

stimulus

Complete Figure 1 by listing the correct order of events during a voluntary response.

This should include some structures through which impulses pass between the stimulus and the response.

2d1 mark

Figure 2 shows a synapse (in two states) connecting two neurones

Figure 2

motor-neurone

Name substance X.

Did this page help you?

3a4 marks

Neurones pass information around the body.

Explain how information is passed from one neurone to another.

3b4 marks

Reflex actions help to protect the body from damage.

Figure 3 represents the nervous pathway for a reflex action when a person accidentally steps on a sharp pin.

Figure 3

muscles-in-leg-1

Describe and explain how the impulse is transmitted to the effector when the person stands on the sharp pin.

3c3 marks

Table 2 shows some pathways around the nervous system. 

Table 2

Type of neurone

From

To

 

Relay neurone

 

 

 

Relay neurone

Relay

 

 

Complete Table 2

3d4 marks

A student carried out an investigation to see if playing computer games improves reaction time.

The test consisted of pressing the 'return key' on a keyboard every time an image appeared on the screen.

The student tested two groups of five people. One group were Gamers (experienced players of computer games) and the other group were people who do not play computer games.

Table 3 shows the results.

Table 3

Person

Reaction time in seconds for Gamers

Reaction time in seconds for non-Gamers

1

0.3

0.5

2

0.4

0.2

3

0.2

0.3

4

0.1

0.2

5

0.2

0.3

Mean

0.24

Y

The student concluded:

"Playing computer games improves reaction time"

Calculate the value Y and suggest why this may not be an accurate statement.

Did this page help you?