Function of Nerve Cell
- Nerve cell conducts information in our body. This information flows in the form of nerve impulse in nervous system. Nerve impulse means an electrical current passing through axon for a very short duration. This is called spike. When stimulus energy reaches receptors, then some electrical changes takes place in nerve potential. When the stimulus intensity or energy is very less, then the resulting electrical changes are weak and cannot produce nerve impulse. If the stimulus energy is strong above a certain level, then it generates electrical impulse which is then taken to central nervous system. It means that the strength of nerve impulse is not dependent on the strength of stimulus. Nerve fibers work on the principle of ‘All or None law’. Nerve fibers will either respond fully or will not respond at all. The strength of nerve impulse does not increase or decrease with stimulus intensity.
- Synapse: Information flows in the form of nerve impulse in nervous system. One neuron can carry information only through the length of its axon. But when information is to be sent to distant body parts then so many neurons participate in this process. One neuron sends information to another neuron, which sends information to other neuron and so on. One neuron is not physically attached to other neurons rather they are separated by a small space in between both the neurons. This space is called synapse.
- Information is passed through the synapse by a specific process. The nature of nerve impulse conduction is electrochemical in axon. But the nature of synaptic transmission is chemical. These chemicals are known as neurotransmitters.
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Important Points of Human Behavior :-
- “Inthis chapter, the relation of human behavior and biology is described.”
- The cell is the basic unit of human body. Many cells form tissue, many tissue to organ, many organs to organ systems are formed. These organ systems perform specific functions of our body. Nerve cell is the basic and smallest unit of nervous system. It is also called neuron.
- Nerve cells are of three types on the basis of functions: Sensory, motor and association neurons.
- Nerve cells perform the function of transmitting information in our body.
- Nervous system is of two types: Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System.
- Central Nervous system consists of brain and spinal cord.
- Peripheral nervous system is divided in two parts somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system.
Human Behavior Questions and Answers
1. Which part of nerve cell contains nucleus?
A Axon
B. Soma
C. Myelin Sheath
D. Nodes of Ranvier
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Answer :- ( B )
2. Which part of nerve cell increases the speed of nerve conduction?
A Myelin Sheath
B. Dendrites
C. Thalamus
D. Pons
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Answer :- ( A )
“3. Which part of brain controls activities like eating, drinking, sleeping, temperature regulation and sexual arousal?”
A Pons
B. Cerebellum
C. Hypothalamus
D. Thalamus
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Answer :- ( C )
4. How many pairs of cranial nerves are there in human brain?
A. 6
B. 10
C. 12
D. 31
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Answer :- ( C )