Communication System

Endocrine System

The endocrine system is a network of glands that secrete chemicals called hormones to help your body function properly.

The Nervous System

Whether you are catching a ball, slicing carrots, breathing or stopping a fall, you need to be in control. You need to be able to detect and respond in ways that ensure your survival.

This requires control and coordination. Your nervous system assists you in keeping in control, and coordinating other body systems, so that they work together and function effectively.

Stimulus response model

Sensory receptors

Sensory neurons

Interneurons in the CNS

Motor neurons

Effector (Gland or Muscle)

Action or response

Endocrine Glands

Pituitary glands

The hormones of the pituitary gland help regulate the functions of other endocrine glands.

The hypothalamus sends signals to the pituitary to release or inhibit pituitary hormone production.

Reproductive glands

They transfer information from one set of cells to another to coordinate the functions of different parts of the body.

Hypothalamus

The Brain

. It is the control centre of all of your body’s functions and is responsible for intelligence, creativity, perceptions, reaction, emotions and memories. It can be said that your brain is at the wheel, steering your body’s systems so that it continues to function correctly, whether it’s remembering the taste of chocolate, working out a crossword puzzle, controlling your heartbeat or monitoring the glucose level in your blood.


The cerebrum is made up of four primary areas called lobes. Each of these lobes is associated with particular functions.

The senses

Five "traditional" senses

Sight.

Hearing.

Taste.

Smell.

Touch.

The lobes

Frontal.

Parietal.

Temporal.

Occipital.

The frontal lobes are involved in motor function, problem solving, spontaneity, memory, language, initiation, judgement, impulse control, and social and sexual behavior.

The parietal lobes can be divided into two functional regions. One involves sensation and perception and the other is concerned with integrating sensory input, primarily with the visual system.

Processing sensory input. Adjacent areas in the superior, posterior, and lateral parts of the temporal lobes are involved in high-level auditory processing. The temporal lobe is involved in primary auditory perception, such as hearing, and holds the primary auditory cortex.

The occipital lobe is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals. The occipital lobe is the visual processing center.


Homeostasis & Negative Feedback

When you run, does your heart pound? Do you breathe harder? Your body automatically increases heart and breathing rates to keep a balance within your body - in this case, to bring in more oxygen to replace the oxygen your active muscles consume. Your body attempts to maintain ideal oxygen and blood sugar levels, blood pressure and body temperature, an internal balance called homeostasis.

Our body has a perfect range that it needs to work within so that each of our systems operate at their optimum level. If our body detects that we have moved outside of this 'perfect range', we immediately try to correct it. Negative feedback is the process that helps our body keep its internal conditions stable so that we can function effectively.

CNS and PNS

CNS

The central nervous system (CNS) controls most functions of the body and mind. It consists of two parts: the brain and the spinal cord.

PNS

The PNS consists of the nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord.

Lines of defence

Our body has 3 different lines of defence that help protect us from disease and infection. These defence mechanisms are activated when our body detects anything that it does not identify as 'self', or part of our own body.

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First Line: Designed to prevent pathogens entering the body

Second Line: Inflammation (once the pathogen has entered the body)

Third Line: The lymphatic system (White blood cells)

Aseptic technique

Aseptic technique is a method designed to prevent contamination from microorganisms. It involves applying the strictest rules and utilising what is known about infection prevention to minimize the risks of contamination.

Neurons and nerves

Neurons: a specialised cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.

Nerves: a whitish fibre or bundle of fibres in the body that transmits impulses of sensation to the brain or spinal cord, and impulses from these to the muscles and organs.

Stimulus

Blood sugar

What happens when blood sugar is too low?

High blood sugar. Glucose receptor cells in the pancreas detect how much sugar is in the blood. It also contains effectors called alpha cells.

Response

Alpha cells produce Glucagon, which helps to increase the amount of blood sugar by releasing some of the extra blood sugar stored from previous meals.

What happens when we have too much blood sugar?

Low blood sugar a.k.a. Glucose. Glucose receptor cells in the pancreas detect how much sugar is in the blood. The pancreas controls how much sugar is in the blood. It contains effectors called beta cells.

When you think, you are using your brain. Another name for thinking is cognition. You also ‘feel’ with your brain. Happiness, sadness and anger are examples of feelings or emotions that are interpreted by your brain. Your brain also interprets messages about your internal and external environments, and plays a key role in regulating processes that keep you alive.

Response

Beta cells produce insulin, which helps to remove sugar from the blood and take it to the cells, where it is used to make energy,

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body temperature

thirst

appetite and weight control

emotions

sleep cycles

sex drive

childbirth

blood pressure and heart rate

production of digestive juices

balancing bodily fluids