Neurones and synapses | Biology | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

What are nerve cells called?

'neurones' ✓
What is the role of the nervous system?

produce hormones

helps absorb nutrients

detect and react to changes ✓

transport materials around the body
Which of the following are effectors?

glands ✓

nerve tissue

receptors

muscles ✓
Which of the following is not a stimulus?

chemicals in food or the air

pain

sound

light

nutrition ✓
Match the word to its meaning.

receptor

⇔

Cells that detect a change in the environment. ✓

stimulus

⇔

A change in the environment. ✓

neurone

⇔

A nerve cell which transmits electrical impulses. ✓

effector

⇔

A muscle or gland which carries out a response. ✓
Put these in order to show how a message moves through the nervous system, starting with detecting the stimulus.

1

⇔

sensory receptor

2

⇔

sensory neurone

3

⇔

relay neurones in the CNS

4

⇔

motor neurone

5

⇔

effector

Exit quiz

Match the part of the cell to its name.

a

⇔

dendron ✓

b

⇔

cell body ✓

c

⇔

axon ✓
Match the type of neurone to its function.

relay neurones

⇔

Transmits electrical impulses between neurones within the CNS. ✓

sensory neurones

⇔

Transmits electrical impulses from the receptor to the CNS. ✓

motor neurones

⇔

Transmits electrical impulses from the CNS to the effector. ✓
What sort of tissue is the myelin sheath made of?

elastic

muscle

fat ✓

nerve
What effect does having a myelin sheath have on nerve impulses?

makes more signals

allows the signal to be interrupted

increases the speed of the signals ✓

prevents interruption of the signal ✓

slows the speed of the signal
What are the chemicals called that diffuse across the synapse?

'neurotransmitters' ✓
Put these steps in order, to show how a nerve impulse passes from one neurone to another.

1

⇔

The nerve signal triggers vesicles (packets) of neurotransmitters.

2

⇔

The neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic gap.

3

⇔

The neurotransmitters diffuse across the gap and bind to a receptor.

4

⇔

The signal carries on.

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Neurones are specialised cells that transmit nerve impulses
The common structures of neurones, including cell body and axon
A myelin sheath on some neurones increases the speed of the nerve impulse
Nerve impulses pass from one neurone to another across a gap called a synapse
An impulse arriving at a synapse releases neurotransmitters that diffuse across the gap to receptors on the next neurone

Common misconception

There is usually a lot of confusion over the synapse and how the signal moves from electrical, to chemical, to electrical again. There are many new key words involved, which makes it even harder.

The synapse has been broken down into several stages with clear diagrams and carefully used key words. There are plenty of opportunities to practise using the terminology and explaining the process, including applying it to a real-world scenario.

Keywords

Neurone - A nerve cell which transmits electrical impulses between different parts of the body.
Axon - The part of a neurone which carries the signal.
Myelin sheath - A fatty coating on the neurone which insulates it.
Synapse - The junction between two neurones.
Neurotransmitter - A chemical transmitter which crosses the synapse and triggers the onward response.