OCR Gateway GCSE Biology: Combined Science

Topic Questions

3.1 Coordination & Control – the Nervous System

1
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2 marks

Complete the sequence of a reflex arc.

Stimulus ...........................

Sensory

neurone

CNS ...........................
...........................
Effector Response

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2a
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5 marks

A boy picks up a hot plate and quickly drops it.

This is a reflex action.

Describe the sequence of events that happens in his nervous system during this reflex action.

2b
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4 marks

The table shows information about different types of neurons.

Type of neurone Is myelin sheath
present?
Diameter
(× 10–3 mm)
Speed of
impulse
(m/s)
A yes 13–20 80–120
B yes 6–12 33–75
C yes 5–8 4–24
D yes 1–5 3–15
E no 0.2–1.5 0.5–20

(i)

Discuss the effect of diameter on the speed of impulse.

[2]

(ii)
Explain how strong a conclusion, if any, you can make from the data about the effect of the myelin sheath on the speed of impulse.
[2]

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3a
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5 marks

A boy picks up a hot plate and quickly drops it.

This is a reflex action.

Describe the sequence of events that happens in his nervous system during this reflex action.

3b
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3 marks

Explain why it is important that this action is a reflex and not controlled consciously by the brain.

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4
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5 marks

Alzheimer’s disease involves damage to nerve transmission.

Symptoms include difficulties in judging distance, concentrating and making decisions.

The diagram shows a synapse between two neurones in the brain.q21b-paper1h-june2019-ocrgcsebio

Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter in the brain. It diffuses across the 32 nanometre synaptic gap.

In a brain from a person with Alzheimer’s disease, the time for acetylcholine to diffuse between neurones is 6.4 × 10–7 s.

1 metre = 109 nanometres

(i)

Calculate the speed of diffusion in a person with Alzheimer’s disease.

Use this formula: speed = distance ÷ time

Give your answer in metres per second.

Speed of diffusion = ........................... metres per second

[3]

(ii)
In the brain of a healthy person the speed of diffusion is 0.2 metres per second.

How does the result obtained in part (i) account for the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?
 [2]

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