Answers to Biology for IGCSE Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Summary Questions page 156.

(Suggested marks are given in square brackets)

1 central; peripheral [2]

2 (a) sketches of sensory neurone, relay neurone, motor neurone as on page 144. Relay
neurone could look like a smaller version of the motor neurone

(b) sensory neurone transmits impulses from, sense organ / receptor / sensory cell, to
CNS [1]
relay neurone transmits impulses, from sensory neurone to motor neurone /
between neurones in the CNS [1]
motor neurone transmits impulses from CNS to, effector / muscle / gland [1]

3 (a) e.g. knee jerk reflex / described; blinking in response to grit in the eye; withdrawal
reflex removing hand from hot or painful object; pupil, dilation / constriction;
focusing / accommodation [1]
(b) parts of the reflex arc are: sensory cell that detects; a stimulus; sensory neurone
that transmits impulses to a relay neurone in the CNS; relay neurone transmits
impulses to motor neurone; motor neurone transmits impulse to effector; which
brings about the response to the stimulus; the three neurones are in series (one
after the other) [7]
Note: some reflex arcs do not have a relay neurone, e.g. knee jerk reflex
 (c) simple reflexes are protective; from damage, e.g. cuts / burns; prevent damage to
delicate tissues, e.g. blinking and the front of the eye / pupil constriction and the
retina; coughing if something is stuck in the back of the throat [3]

4 (a) coordination organising different parts of the body to work together [1]

(b) sense organ organ composed of different tissues including receptor cells that
detect a stimulus or stimuli and generate nerve impulses to the CNS [1]

(c) antagonistic one muscle contracts and has the opposite effect of another, e.g.
biceps and triceps are antagonistic muscles [1]

5 (a) biceps; triceps [2]

(b) biceps contracts, triceps relaxes; forearm is raised (forearm is flexed); about the
hinge joint at the elbow; triceps contract, biceps relaxes; forearm is lowered (forearm
is extended) [5]

6 (a) adrenaline; [1]

(b) insulin; [1]

(c) thyroxine; [1]

(d) testosterone; [1]

(e) oestrogen / progesterone; [1]

7 award up to 4 marks for clearly stated differences as summarised in this table

feature nervous system endocrine system

structures nerves glands containing secretory
cells;
forms of electrical impulses hormones (chemicals);
information
pathways along neurones in the blood;
speed of fast slow;
information transfer
duration of effects short-lived, e.g. muscle usually slow and longer lasting
contracts for a short time (some are rapid, e.g. response
to adrenaline);
target area localised only the area whole tissue or organ; (some
immediately at the end of a hormones affect the whole
neurone body)
response muscle contraction / many different responses, e.g.
secretion by glands conversion of glucose to
glycogen, protein synthesis,
rate of respiration;

[4]
8 a person, chooses to make / decides to make, a voluntary action;
does not choose to make an involuntary action / happens automatically / without
thought [2]

9 award up to 3 marks for clearly stated differences as summarised in this table

feature rods cones

distribution periphery / edge of retina most are in the fovea;
not in the fovea
intensity of light low high;
detected
colour vision no yes;

type of vision night vision daytime vision;

detailed vision no yes; (in the fovea where
each cone has its own
sensory cell giving good
visual acuity)

[3]

10 hormones increase growth; increase the production of milk; e.g. BST

[2]

11 auxins are produced in the shoot tip; pass down the stem; cause cells to, elongate /
lengthen;

involved in phototropic response; more auxin on shaded side of stem; causes

bending towards the light; involved in geotropic response; in stem more on
lower side; causes bending of stem upwards; in roots more on lower side inhibits
growth; causes bending of root downwards [3]

Chapter 11 Exam-Style Questions page 156-157

Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

1 D
2 B
3 B
4 D

Short Answer Questions

5 (c)(i) A cornea;
B lens;
C ciliary body;
D vitreous humour;
E fovea;
F blind spot; [6]
 (b) receptor cells; convert energy of stimulus to (electrical) impulses in neurones; detect
changes in surroundings; send information to the CNS; [2]

(c)(i) pupils, decrease in size / constrict; [1]

(ii) light strikes the retina; stimulates receptor cells (rods and cones); impulses to the
brain; along sensory neurones; impulses in relay neurones; impulses in motor
neurones; to effector / circular muscle in the iris; muscle contracts; radial muscles
relax; [5]

(d) image is out of focus; impulses from retina to brain; impulses from brain to ciliary
muscle; ciliary muscle contracts; suspensory ligaments slacken; elastic tissue around
the lens recoils; lens becomes fatter; focal length of lens changes; image is now in
focus; [5]

6(a) temperature / hot and cold; pain; [2]

(b) 1.4 / 0.02 ; = 70 metres per second; [2]

(c) P biceps;
Q triceps; [2]

(d) impulses in sensory neurone; impulse crosses synapse to relay neurone; impulse
crosses synapse to motor neurone; impulse in motor neurone; stimulates, effector /
biceps; biceps contracts; [6]

7 (a) X = blind spot;

Y = fovea; [2]

(b)

number
of rod
cells

A X Y B

3 marks for no cells at X and Y and cells at the other places across the retina
[3]
(c)(i) one from
blinking, pupil constricting, pupil dilating, accommodation or focusing; [1]
(ii) in an involuntary action impulses travel from receptor to CNS and then direct to
effector; impulses to and from the brain are not involved in controlling the response;

in a voluntary action impulses travel from the brain to the effector; after a decision is
made; [3]
(d) nervous system coordinates fast responses to stimuli; information is conducted to
specific organs / tissues by neurones; endocrine system coordinates slow acting
processes such as growth; hormones in the blood can coordinate the whole body;
does not use as much energy as nervous system; so good for coordinating, slow
acting / processes that occur all over the body; [3]