Nervous, Endocrine, and Reproductive System Test – What to study…

A. Nervous and Endocrine  REGULATION

- both help to maintain homeostasis
B. Nervous System
1. Impulse – ELECTRICAL and CHEMICAL message
2. Structure of a neuron – KNOW THE PICTURE
- Dendrites – beginning of neuron that receives the impulse (have receptors on them)
- Cell Body – contains nucleus
- Axon – carries impulse from cell body to the terminal branches
- Axon terminals (terminal branches – end of neuron that releases NEUROTRANSMITTERS
- Synapse – space between 2 neurons (bw terminal branches and dendrites)

A – dendrites
B – nucleus inside the cell body
C – axon (surrounded by mylein sheath)
D – Axon terminals

3. How the impulse travels across the synapse

- Axon terminals release neurotransmitters into synapse (impulse becomes chemical).
- Neurotransmitters travel across the space and attach to specific receptors (perfect fit)
- The impulse becomes electrical again.

4. Nervous system divided into:

- CNS – Central Nervous System
- brain and spinal cord
- made up of interneurons
- PNS – Peripheral nervous system
- made up of sensory and motor neurons
4. Brain
1. Cerebrum – controls MEMORY, THOUGHT,
REASONING
2. Cerebellum – controls BALANCE and
COORDINATION
3. Medulla Oblongata – controls all INVOLUNTARY
activities

5. Reflex arc
Receptor  Sensory neurons  interneurons  motor neurons  effector
(sense organs) (in spinal cord)) (muscle or gland)
C. Endocrine System
1. Endocrine glands secrete HORMONES directly into the BLOOD
- bind to RECEPTORS on TARGET CELLS
- only need small amount
2. Endocrine glands – KNOW THE PICTURE
- Hypothalamus – part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland
- Pituitary gland – “Master gland” – controls other glands
- TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) – stimulates thyroid
- GH (growth hormone) – causes elongation of bones
- LH and FSH – stimulate the ovaries
- Thyroid – secretes thyroxine to regulate METABOLISM
- Parathyroid – regulate CALCIUM levels in blood
- Adrenal glands – secrete adrenaline to speed up life activities in times of stress
- Pancreas – regulate blood glucose levels
- Insulin  decreases blood glucose levels
- Glucagon – increases blood glucose levels
- Gonads – sex glands
- Ovaries – secrete ESTROGEN and PROGESTERONE
- Testes – secrete TESTOSTERONE

3. Negative feedback: helps maintain homeostasis by keeping hormone levels STABLE

- Examples:
- Blood glucose levels remain stable by secreting insulin and glucagon
- Sweating to lower your body temperature