2. The Human Nervous System
1. The human nervous system is divided into:
a) The central nervous system (control centre) ; the
brain controls all activities of the body & the
spinal cord controls the involuntary actions like
knee jerks.
b) The peripheral nervous system transmits impulses
from the sensory organs through the central
nervous system to the muscles or glands
2. Voluntary actions are actions we aware of and
involuntary actions are actions which carry on
automatically.
12. Eye
1. The eye is the sensory organ of sight that responds
to the light.
2. Sight mechanism:
a) Light rays from the object entering the eye
through the cornea, aqueous humour, pupil,
eyepiece and vitreous humour and focusing on
the retina.
b) The photoreceptors that are trigged and nerve
impulses that are formed are sent through the
optic nerve to the brain.
13. 3. The rod cell in the retina is sensitive to light of
different intensity, such as at night. It is not
sensitive to colour and only a black and white
image I produced.
4. The cone cell in the retina is sensitive to light of
high intensity to detect colour.
17. The functions of the different parts
of the eye
PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Sclera -White, tough and
fibrous coat
- Protect the eye
- Gives the eye fixed
shape
Choroid - Dark colour
- Has many blood
capillaries
- Absorbs light to
prevent reflection of
light inside the eye
18. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Retina - Light-sensitive
layer of the eye
- Contains
photoreceptors
that detect light
- Place on which
images are formed
Yellow
spot
Shallow yellowish
depression in the
retina directly
opposite the centre
of the lens
- The area that is the
most sensitive to
light
- The area where
images are normally
focused
19. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Blind
spot
- Located immediately
over
the optic nerve
- Has no
photoreceptors
- The spot in the eye
where the optic nerve
enters the eye
- Not sensitive to light
Cornea - Transparent layer at
the front of the eye
- Curved shape
- Allow light to enter
the eye
- Directs light towards
the lens
20. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Conjunctiva - Thin transparent
membrane covering the
exposed part of the eye
- Protects the
cornea
Iris - Part of the choroid
layer which can be seen
from the front of the eye
as a disc-shaped
structure
- Consists of muscles
- Coloured, for example,
brown or blue
- Controls the
size of the pupil
thus controlling
the amount of
light entering the
eye
21. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Pupil - A small opening in
the centre of
the iris
- Enables light to
enter the eye
- Controls amount of
light entering the eye
Ciliary
muscles
- Consists of the
ciliary muscle
- Part of the choroid
layer
- Contracts and
relaxes to change the
thickness of the lens
22. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Eye
Lens
- A transparent,
elastic and
biconvex disc
- Focuses light that
enters the eye onto
the retina to form an
image
- Focuses light from
near and distant
objects by changing
its thickness
23. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Vitreous
humour
- Transparent jelly-
like
substance
- Fills the space
behind the
lens
- Helps maintain the
shape of the eyeball
- Helps focus images
on the retina
Suspensory
ligaments
- Consists of fibres
attaching the lens
to the ciliary body
- Holds the lens in
position
24. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Aqueous
humour
- Watery,
transparent fluid
- Fills the space
between cornea
and lens
- Helps focus images on
the retina
- Helps maintain the
shape of the eyeball
- Enables oxygen and
nutrients from the
choroid to diffuse to the
lens, cornea and
conjunctiva
25. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Optic
nerve
- Nerve
connecting the
photoreceptors
in the retina to the
brain
- Carries impulses from
the retina to the brain
26. How Human See
Light reflected from
an object enters the
eye through the
pupil
Lens bends the light
rays and focuses
them onto the retina
Inverted image
formed on the
retina
Photoreceptors
stimulated
Impulses formed and
sent through the optic
nerve to the brain
Brain interprets the
image as upright
27. The Human Sight Mechanism
Cornea
Aqueous
humour
Pupil
Eye lens
Vitreous
humour
Retina
(Photoreceptor)
Optic nerve
Brain
29. Ear
1. The ear is the sensory organ for hearing.
2. Responds to sound stimuli.
30. The Human Ear
Outer
- Pinna
- ear canal
(filled with
air)
- eardrum
Middle
- ossicles
- oval window
- Eustachian tube.
(filled with air)
Inner
-Cochlea
- semicircular
canals
- auditory nerve
(contain fluid)
31. Hearing Mechanism
1. The ear pinna receives and sends sound waves
through the auditory canal to the eardrum.
2. The vibration from the ear drum are amplified by
the ossicles and then sent to the cochlea
through the oval window.
3. The cochlea converts sound vibration to nerve
impulses and are transmitted through the
auditory nerve to the brain.
32. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Outer ear
(a) Pinna
- Made of cartilage
and skin
- Collects and directs
sound waves into the
ear canal
(b) Ear
canal
-A narrow passage
- Walls near the
outside of the ear
covered with fine
hairs
-Leads to the ear
drum
- Directs sound
towards the ear
drum
33. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Middle ear
(a) Ear
drum
- A thin membrane - Vibrates when
sound
waves reach it
(b) Ossicles - Three small bones
called
the hammer-bone,
anvil-
bone and stirrup-
bone.
- Amplifies and
transmits
vibrations of the
ear drum
to the membrane
covering
the oval window
34. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
(c) Oval
window
- A small opening
covered by a
membrane
- Transmits vibrations
from
middle ear to inner
ear
(d)
Eustachian
tube
- A narrow tube
- Connects the
middle ear with
the throat
- Balances air
pressure on both
sides of ear drum so
that the ear drum
cam vibrate freely
35. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
Inner ear
(a)
Cochlea
- Coiled structure
- Filled with fluid
- Inner wall contain
receptors sensitive
to
vibrations
- Changes sound
vibrations to nerve
impulses
(b)
Auditory
nerve
- Nerve fibres that
connect
receptors in the
cochlea to
the brain
- Transmits impulse
from
receptors in the
cochlea to
the brain
36. PART STRUCTURE FUNCTION
(c) Semi-
circular
canals
- Three semicircular
canals positioned at
right angles to each
other
- Contains sensory
cells and fluid
- Involved in
maintaining the
body balance
- Not involved in
hearing
37. The pinna catches
sound waves and directs
the sound waves to the
ear
The ear drum vibrates
when the sound waves
strike it
Vibrations amplified and
transferred by the
ossicles to the
membrane of the oval
window
Vibrations of the
membrane of the oval
window causes the fluid
in the cochlea to move in
waves and stimulate
receptors that produce
nerve impulses
Nerve impulses carried by
the auditory nerve to the
brain
Impulses interpreted by the
brain as sound
The
membrane
of the oval
window
vibrates
The Hearing Mechanism
Figure 4. How we hear
39. Nose
1. The nose is the sensory organ for smell.
2. Cells sensitive to smell are found in the
epithelium located high in the nasal cavity.
3. Chemicals in the air dissolve in the mucus layers
that coat the sensory cell of smell (olfactory
cell) and then stimulate it to produce nerve
impulses.
43. Chemicals in
the air
Air enters nasal
cavity through
nostrils
Chemicals
dissolve in the
mucus layer
Receptors
stimulated by the
chemicals
Receptors
(olfactory nerve)
send messages to
the brain
Brain interprets the
messages as a
specific smell
The detection of Smell
45. Tongue
1. The tongue is the sensory organ for taste.
2. Chemicals in food dissolve in saliva and are
absorbed into the taste buds (papillae) through
the pores and stimulate the taste receptors in
them to produce nerve impulses.
3. There are five tastes: sweet, salty, sour , bitter
and umami
4. Tiny bumps found on the tongue called taste
buds contain the receptors that detect different
tastes.
46. 5. Different areas of the tongue detect different
tastes.
6. The saliva in the mouth has two functions:
◦ Dissolve substances so that they can be detected
by the taste receptors.
◦ Make chewed food easier to swallow.
47.
48.
49.
50. Chemicals in
food
released by
chewing
Chemicals
dissolved by
saliva
Taste receptors
stimulated by
chemicals in saliva
Taste receptors
send messages to
the brain
Brain interprets
the messages as
a specific taste
Detected of Taste
51. Skin
1. The skin has five receptors that are sensitive to
heat, cold, pressure, touch and pain stimuli
respectively.
2. The thinner the epidermis or the more
receptors found on the skin, the more sensitive
is that part of the skin.
52. The Structure of Human Skin
Three layers:
Epidermis Dermis
Hypodermis
(fat layer)
53. Epidermis
- Outer layer of the skin.
divided into three layers.
- Outermost layer is made up of dead cells.
- Tough and water-resistant .
- It also protects the sensitive cells under it
- Prevents the entry of
germs into the body.
54. Dermis
- Inner layer of skin.
- Blood vessels, glands and receptors are found
-The glands ~sweat glands and sebaceous glands.
- Receptors~ touch receptors, pain receptors,
heat receptors, cold receptors and
pressure receptors.
Hypodermis (fat layer)
- is a layer directly below the dermis and
serves to connect the skin to the fibrous tissue
of the bones and muscles.
55.
56.
57.
58. Receptors in the Skin
1. Cold receptors
sensitive to cold.
2. Heat receptors
sensitive to heat.
3. Pain
receptors
- nearest to
the
epidermis.
- nerves
endings.
4. Touch receptors
- sensitive to slight
pressure
-found more
abundantly
in certain parts
(fingertips).
5. Pressure
receptors
- sensitive to
pressure.
- located the
furthest from
the
epidermis.
- stimulated
when any
object presses
hard against
the skin.
59. Sensitivity of the Skin at Different
Parts of the Body
1. The skin on different parts of the body has different
sensitivity.
2. The skin is more sensitive ~ fingertips, neck and
cheek.
3. These areas have more touch receptors or a thinner
epidermis.
4. Some areas of the body are less sensitive than
others.
60. 5. Example: the skin on the back, arms and legs have
fewer nerves endings.
6. The elbows, knees and soles of the feet are not very
sensitive because they have thicker epidermis.
61. Limitation of the Sense of Sight
1. The limitation of the sense of sight is the ability
limit the eye to see the object.
2. The optical illusion occurs when our brain
cannot interpret accurately what is actually seen
by the eye.
3. The blind spot does not have any
photoreceptor and we cannot see an object if
its image is formed on it.
69. Eye Defects
In normal vision, light is focused accurately on the
retina to form an image on the retina. This will
produce a clear and sharp image on the retina.
Defects of vision:
(a) short sightedness.
(b) long sightedness.
(c) astigmatism.
70. A short-sighted person
1. Can see nearby objects clearly but distant
objects appear blur due to the image of the
object which falls in front of the retina.
2. The eyeballs are too long and the eye lenses are
too thick. This is because the ciliary muscles are
too weak to make the eye lens thinner.
3. Can be corrected by wearing concave lenses.
71.
72. A long-sighted person
1. Can see distant objects clearly but nearby
objects appear blur because the image of a
near object falls behind the retina.
2. The eyeballs are too short and the eye lenses
are too thin. This is because the ciliary muscles
are too weak to make the eye lens thicker.
3. The defect can be corrected by wearing convex
lenses.
73.
74. Vision
defect
Short sightedness Long sightedness
causes Eyeball is too long
or lens is too thick
Eyeball is too short
or lens is too thin
Symptom Can see near
objects clearly but
distant objects
appear blur
Near objects appear
blur but can see
distant objects
clearly
75. Short sightedness Long sightedness
Light focus in front of retina Light focus behind the
retina
76. Vision
defect
Short sightedness Long sightedness
Method of
correction
Use a concave lens
to diverge (spread
out) light rays just
before they enter
the eyes so that
image if formed
further inside and
exactly on the
retina.
Use a convex lens to
converge light rays
(make them come
closer together) just
before they enter the
eyes so that image is
formed at a shorter
distance and exactly
on the retina.
77.
78.
79. Astigmatism
1. Caused by irregular curvature of the cornea or
the lens.
2. The light rays from an object is split and
focused at different points in the eye.
3. Some light may be focused on the retina,
some light will be focused in front or behind
the retina.
4. Causes blurred vision for both near and
distant objects
5. Can be corrected with cylindrical lenses
83. Limitation of Sight
Limitation of sight Devices
Cannot see through
objects that are not
transparent
X-ray machine, ultrasound
scanning device
Cannot see objects that
are very far away
Binoculars, telescope
Cannot see objects that
are very tiny
Magnifying glass,
microscope
Cannot see around
corners
Periscope
93. The Response in Plants
1. The response of plants to stimuli is called
tropism.
2. The tropic movements such as phototropism
are important to help the plants to obtain the
basic needs like light, water and minerals.
94. Stimuli and Responses in Plants
Responses of Plants to Stimuli
Plants respond by either positive tropism or
negative tropism.
Positive tropism- the growth of the part of the plant
towards the direction of the stimulus.
Negative tropism- the growth of the part of the
plant away from the direction of the stimulus.
Nastic movement – not dependent on the direction
of the stimulus.
95. Phototropism
Phototropism- the growth of a plant to light.
The shoots of plants show positive phototropism-
they grow towards the light.
The roots of plants show negative phototropism-
they grow away from the light.
96.
97.
98. Geotropism
◦ Response to gravity.
◦ Root show positive geotropism since they grow in
the direction of gravity.
◦ Shoots show negative geotropism since they grow
in the opposite direction to the pull of gravity
99.
100. Hydrotropism
The growth of a plant part in response to water.
Roots grow towards water- positive hydrotropism.
Positive hydrotropism of roots is stronger than the
positive geotropism of roots.
When the direction of water source and the
direction of gravity is not same, roots will grow
towards the water.
101.
102.
103. Thigmotropism
◦ Response towards touch or contact with a solid
object.
◦ The stems and tendrils of climbing plants grow
and twine around a support when they come into
contact with the support.
◦ Stems and tendrils- positive thigmotropism.
105. Nastic Movement
The response of a plant part to a stimulus in which
the movement of the plant part is independent of the
direction of the stimulus.
Nastic movement takes place more quickly than a
tropism.
One type- seismonasty ~ Mimosa pudica and Venus
flytrap.
106. Nastic Movement
Leaves of Mimosa pudica close immediately when
they are touched. The leaves will open again after a
while. Thus, these leaves show seismonastic
response.
Venus flytrap- closes and trap insects that land on it.
Photonastiy - nastic movement involved in growth.
Some flowers open in bright light and close in dim
light or vice versa.
107.
108.
109. Visions in Humans and Animals
1. Stereoscopic vision is the vision whereby both the
eye located in front of the head.
2. The production of three-dimensional images
enables humans and predators to estimate
distance accurately.
3. Monocular vision is the vision whereby both of the
eye are located at the side of the head.
4. The production of two-dimensional images makes
the preys difficult to estimate distance accurately.
5. However, the field of monocular vision is wider.
112. Properties of stereoscopic vision:
- a smaller field of vision compared to
monocular vision
- the visual fields of both eyes overlap in the
middle.
- it allows distance to be estimated more
accurately
- it is found in predators such as tigers, cats,
dogs, and owls.
113. Properties of monocular vision:
- a very wide field of vision compared to stereoscopic
vision.
- there is little or no overlap between the visual fields
of both eyes.
- distance cannot be estimated accurately.
- it is found in prey such as mice, rabbits, fish and
most birds.
114. Both stereoscopic and monocular vision are
important to the survival of animals.
Predators hunt other animals – need to estimate
the distance correctly to capture their prey.
Prey- need to have wide field of vision in order to
detect predators which may try to approach from
the side or back.