Nervous Coordination and Simple Reflexes

Nervous Coordination

Information is transferred by nerve impulses travelling along the length of neurones (specialised nerve cells).

A nerve impulse isthe passage of an action potential along the axon of a neurone.

The junction between two neurones is called a neuronal synapse.

The junction between a neurone and a muscle is called a neuromuscular junction.

Nerve impulse transmission and synaptic transmission is discrete, unidirectional and limited in frequency.

Simple Reflexes

• A rapid automatic response to a stimulus
• Response is always the same for the same stimulus
• Provides the fastest route from receptor to effector
• No conscious control, brain not involved (not learned)
• Examples of reflexes -
  • prevents tendons and muscles from overstretching
  • blinking, coughing and sneezing
  • stretch reflex
  • withdrawal reflex

…