AQA GCSE Biology

Topic Questions

5.1 The Human Nervous System

1a2 marks

Name the two organs of the Central Nervous System (CNS)

1b3 marks

Complete the sentence.

Choose answers from the box.

nerve impulses            stimuli           chemicals       

 hormones           electrical signals           information

Neurones carry __________ in the form of __________ called ____________.

1c1 mark

Figure 1 shows the structure of two neurones
What type of neurone is neurone A?

neurones-1

Figure 1

  • Relay neurone

  • Sensory neurone

  • Motor neurone

  • Reflex neurone

1d1 mark

Motor neurones carry electrical impulses from the CNS to effectors.
Muscles are one type of effector, name another type of effector.

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2a3 marks

The following terms are all components involved in passing a signal along the nervous system.

    coordinator                       receptor                   response 

 effector                            stimulus           

State the correct order of components during a nervous response.

2b1 mark

Which sense organ contains receptor cells that respond to changes in light?

2c1 mark

Figure 2 shows the junction between two neurones.

Figure 2

neurones_receptors

What is this junction called?

  • Reflex arc

  • Synapse

  • Motor neurone

  • Relay neurone

2d3 marks

Many general anaesthetics inhibit the release of signalling chemicals (called neurotransmitters) across some synapses.

Explain what impact this would have on the nerve impulse.

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3a1 mark

Which of the following statements is/are true?

  1. A nerve impulse is carried across a synapse by an electrical signal.
  2. Motor neurones carry chemical signals from the CNS to effectors.
  3. Reflexes involve the conscious part of the brain.
  • 1, 2 and 3

  • 1 and 3

  • 2 and 3

  • None of them.

3b1 mark

Figure 3 shows part of the nervous system involved in a reflex action when a person steps on a sharp pin.

Figure 3

leg-cross-section-1

Name part X.

3c2 marks

Reflexes in the eyes cause a blink if something quickly comes towards them.

Explain why such reflexes are important.

3d
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2 marks

The average speed of a nerve impulse in the human body is 100 metres per second.

A man, who is 2 metres tall, accidentally stubs his toe in the dark.

Calculate the time it takes the nerve impulse to travel to his brain.

State your answer in milliseconds; 1 000 milliseconds = 1 second.

Use the equation:

T i m e space equals space fraction numerator D i s t a n c e over denominator S p e e d end fraction

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4a4 marks

Two students investigate reaction times by performing the 'ruler drop test' as shown in Figure 4.

Student A drops the ruler and student B catches the ruler, the distance measured indicates the reaction time.

Figure 4

measuring-reaction-time-1-1

Both students tested their reaction times, the results are shown in Table 1

Table 1

Test number Distance (cm) dropped for Student A Distance (cm) dropped for Student B
1 9 10
2 8 8
3 11 7
4 9 7
5 8 9
6 9 7
Average distance (mean) X Y

Calculate the values of X and Y and explain which student had the slower average reaction time.

4b1 mark

Figure 5 shows a human brain with four regions labelled A - D.

Figure 5

brain-1

Identify the area of the brain responsible for muscle coordination and movement.

4c4 marks

Figure 6 shows a cross section of human skin.

Figure 6

skin-1

The human body needs to maintain a temperature of around 37 C. 

Describe the changes that occur if the body temperature is too high.

4d1 mark

Figure 7 shows a cross section of the eye.

Figure 7

q5_2

Which label is pointing to the structure(s) which helps control the shape of the lens?

  • Structure 1

  • Structure 2

  • Structure 3

  • Structure 4

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5a1 mark

Which of A - D correctly describes the medical term myopia?

  • Long sightedness

  • Focusing on distant or near objects

  • Adaptation to dim light

  • Short sightedness

5b1 mark

Name the part of the eye that controls the amount of light entering it.

5c1 mark

Figure 7 shows the human eye responding to two different light conditions, A followed by B.

Figure 7eye-conditions-3a

Which scenario from A - D would result in this response

  • Entering a house on a sunny day

  • Turning on a bedroom light at night 

  • Turning off a bedroom light at night time

  • Putting on a pair of sunglasses on a sunny day

5d
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2 marks

As people age, their vision tends to deteriorate.

Figure 8 shows information about different methods of vision correction in adults.

Figure 8

diagram-glasses

Calculate the percentage of adults who have normal vision.

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1a3 marks

Name the three different types of neurone.

1b2 marks

Give two examples of effectors.

1c1 mark

Which type of cells detect stimuli?

1d4 marks

On a warm day it usually feels hotter when the humidity (how much water vapour is in the air) is high.

The heat index shown in Table 1, is an index that combines air temperature and relative humidity, it indicates the human-perceived ambient temperature.

Table 1

table-2

Endurance athletes such as marathon runners need to be careful when competing in hot humid conditions as their bodies can overheat causing heatstroke, which can be fatal.

Explain how temperature regulation can fail in endurance athletes, leading to overheating in hot, humid conditions.

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2a3 marks

A person is playing a game tennis and hits the ball back over the net with their racket.

Suggest what the stimulus, receptors and effectors are in this action.

2b2 marks

The CNS is termed a coordination centre.

Describe what a coordination centre is.

2c3 marks

Figure 1 represents a pathway of how the nervous system responds during a voluntary response.

Figure 1

stimulus

Complete Figure 1 by listing the correct order of events during a voluntary response.

This should include some structures through which impulses pass between the stimulus and the response. 

2d1 mark

Figure 2 shows a synapse (in two states) connecting two neurones

Figure 2

motor-neurone

Name substance X.

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3a4 marks

Neurones pass information around the body.

Explain how information is passed from one neurone to another.

3b4 marks

Reflex actions help to protect the body from damage.

Figure 3 represents the nervous pathway for a reflex action when a person accidentally steps on a sharp pin.

Figure 3

muscles-in-leg-1

Describe and explain how the impulse is transmitted to the effector when the person stands on the sharp pin.

3c3 marks

Table 2 shows some pathways around the nervous system. 

Table 2

Type of neurone From To
  Relay neurone  
    Relay neurone
Relay    

Complete Table 2

3d4 marks

A student carried out an investigation to see if playing computer games improves reaction time.

The test consisted of pressing the 'return key' on a keyboard every time an image appeared on the screen.

The student tested two groups of five people. One group were Gamers (experienced players of computer games) and the other group were people who do not play computer games.

Table 3 shows the results.

Table 3

Person Reaction time in seconds for Gamers Reaction time in seconds for non-Gamers
1 0.3 0.5
2 0.4 0.2
3 0.2 0.3
4 0.1 0.2
5 0.2 0.3
Mean 0.24 Y

The student concluded:

"Playing computer games improves reaction time"

Calculate the value Y and suggest why this may not be an accurate statement.

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4a
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3 marks

Figure 5 shows a human brain with four regions labelled A - C.

Figure 5brain

Identify regions A - C and give an example of a role of each region.

Region  Name Function
A    
B    
C    

4b6 marks

Higher Tier Only

Neuroscientists have been able to study the brain and map out the function of different regions. For example they have been able to identify which parts of the cerebrum are involved in vision, hearing or language.

Describe how neuroscientists have been able to achieve this.

4c6 marks

The human body has to keep its core temperature at around 37 C which is the optimum temperature for enzymes in the body.

Explain how body temperature is controlled via negative feedback.

4d3 marks

Figure 6 shows a cross section of the human eye.

Figure 6

eyeball-unlabelled-1

Name and label the parts of the eye which refract light in Figure 6.

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5a3 marks

Figure 7 shows the path of light entering the front part of the eye of a person with normal vision, whilst looking at a close object.

Figure 7

focus-1

As people get older (typically 40+), their lenses lose flexibility and can't spring back into a round shape when looking at close objects.

Explain what effect a less flexible lens would have on the path of light. 

5b6 marks

Explain the changes that occur in the normal human eye to focus on near and distant objects.

5c3 marks

Explain why long-sighted people are unable to focus on near objects and how this can be corrected using glasses.

5d4 marks

As people age, their vision tends to deteriorate. The majority of adults choose to wear glasses to correct their vision as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8

eye-chart

Explain how laser eye surgery can correct a person's eyesight and suggest a reason why it is not as popular as other methods of vision correction.

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1a1 mark

Nerve tissues that communicate with muscles contain a receptor called the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Figure 1 shows how a nerve impulse passing along neurone X causes an impulse to be passed along a motor neurone.

The motor neurone in Figure 1 is connected to the diaphragm, a muscle involved in breathing.

Figure 1

synapse-and-relay-neurone-1a

Name the type of neurone labelled X.

1b4 marks

Describe the series of events that would result in the diaphragm contracting, from X onwards.

Refer to Figure 1 in your answer.

1c3 marks

Anatoxin is a neurotoxin that is also known as ‘Very Fast Death Factor’ because when it was injected into mice it induced paralysis and death within a few minutes.

Anatoxin is similar in shape to the neurotransmitter that usually binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Suggest how anatoxin can lead to death.

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2a3 marks

Higher Tier Only

When cycling, a cyclist's body temperature increases.

Describe how body temperature is monitored by the brain.

2b1 mark

The skin surface temperature and core body temperature of a cyclist were monitored before, during and after a race, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

body-temperature-and-cycling-2bv2

Core body temperature rises during exercise. When an individual stops exercising, their core body temperature starts to decrease.

How long did it take for the cyclist’s temperature to recover after the race?

2c6 marks

Describe and explain the changes that occurred during the race to both the cyclist’s core body temperature and skin temperature.

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3a4 marks

Figure 1 shows the human eye in two different conditions: bright light and dim light.

Figure 1eye-conditions-3a

Describe the changes in the pupil and iris going from A to B.

Explain how these changes occur, referring to changes in light level.

3b2 marks

Figure 2 shows light entering the eye of an individual with blurred vision, and how this condition can be corrected with glasses.

Figure 2

long-sightedness-3b

Explain how glasses correct the blurred vision.

3c3 marks

Figure 3 shows a ball flying towards an eye.

Figure 3

tennis-ball-eye-3c

In the blink reflex light from the ball is detected by light-sensitive cells in the eye. The muscles in the eyelid shut the eye before the ball hits it.

Describe the pathway taken by the nerve impulse in this blink reflex.

3d2 marks

The nerve pathway linking the light receptors in the retina of the eye to the eyelid muscle is about 0.5 m metres in length.

It would take a nervous impulse 0.006 seconds to travel this distance along neurones.

However it takes about 0.3 seconds for the blink reflex response to the ball to occur.

Explain the difference.

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4a1 mark

Figure 1 shows the front part of two eyes.

Figure 1

accomodation-4a

Name the process of changing the shape of the lens to focus on near or distant objects.

4b3 marks

Name the part of the eye where the light rays form an image and outline how the structure of this part of the eye relates to its function.

4c1 mark

The change in the shape of the lens of a patient was measured by an eye specialist.

The test involved the patient reading a chart from 15 metres away and when reading a book.

The results are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2

aqa-gsce-sq-m-bio-april-2022

Write the letter A on Figure 2 to show a time when the patient was reading a book.

4d4 marks

Describe and explain the changes that occur in the eye to change the shape of the lens during the time marked 'B' on Figure 2.

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5a1 mark

Neuroscientists have been able to study individuals with brain damage to map different regions of the brain to particular functions.

Name the part of the brain responsible for controlling unconscious functions in the body, such as breathing and heart rate.

5b4 marks

Higher Tier Only

A patient is found to have a tumour in the cerebrum of her brain following an MRI scan.

Evaluate whether the patient should have surgery to remove the tumour.

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