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Receptors and the nervous pathway

Cells and control · Neurones and reflexes · note 1 of 5

Spec 2.13Download these notes (PDF)7 pages

Receptors and the nervous pathwaySpec 2.13

The nervous system lets an organism respond to changes in its surroundings. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system (CNS). A sensory receptor is a cell that detects a stimulus (a change in the surroundings) and produces an electrical impulse.

  1. A sensory receptor detects a stimulus.
  2. A sensory neurone carries the electrical impulses to the CNS.
  3. A relay neurone in the CNS passes the impulses on.
  4. A motor neurone carries the impulses from the CNS to an effector (a muscle or a gland).
  5. The effector produces a response.
The three types of neurone
NeuroneFunction
Sensory neuroneCarries impulses from a receptor to the CNS
Relay neuroneFound in the CNS. Connects the sensory neurone to the motor neurone
Motor neuroneCarries impulses from the CNS to an effector
Flow chart of the nervous pathway: stimulus, receptor, sensory neurone, CNS (relay neurone), motor neurone, effector, response.Tap to enlarge
The pathway from stimulus to response.