HE BISHOP’S CO-ED SCHOOL, KALYANI NAGAR
CLASS 7-BIOLOGY (2024-2025)
CHAPTER 6-NERVOUS SYSTEM
DIGITAL NOTES
Note: These digital notes are just for reference. Need not copy these in your
journals.
Question 1-Define the following terms:
a. Brain – The brain is complex, soft and a highly specialized organ that controls the entire
body functions, enables consciousness and self-awareness, facilitates learning, memory
and controls all the activities of the internal organs like beating of heart, breathing,
digestion etc.
b. Spinal cord-the spinal cord is a long, thin, tube-like structure that extends from the
medulla of the brain and runs down almost through the whole length of the backbone.
Question 2: Distinguish between the following pairs on the basis on the basis of the word
indicated in the brackets [ ]
(i) Sensory neuron and Motor neuron[function]
Sensory neuron carry impulses from the sense organ to the spinal cord or brain
whereas, motor neuron carry messages from the brain or spinal cord to the effector-
the gland or muscles.
(ii) Cerebrum and Cerebellum[Location]
Cerebrum is the uppermost part of the brain and is the largest portion of the brain
whereas, Cerebellum is located under the cerebrum and is much smaller to
cerebrum.
(iii) Cranial and Spinal Nerves[Structure of origin]
Cranial nerves arises from the brain whereas, the spinal nerves arises from the
spinal cord.
(iv) Motor and Mixed nerves[Kinds of neurons]
Motor nerves contain only the motor neurons whereas, mixed nerves carries both
sensory and motor neurons.
Question 3: What are voluntary and involuntary actions? Which part of the nervous system
controls them?
Answer: Voluntary actions- When an action is produced with the involvement of thoughts, they
are called voluntary actions. For example-writing an article, picking up of a water bottle etc.
Involuntary actions-Actions which can take place without consciousness or willingness of an
individual are called involuntary actions. For example-Digestion, Heart beating etc.
The cerebral cortex controls our voluntary actions.
Medulla oblongata helps in controlling the involuntary actions.
Question 4: Define the following terms:
(i) Response-The activity of the body in response to the received stimulus.
(ii) Stimulus-Any change in the environment that usually results in change in the activity
of the body.
(iii) Impulse-A wave of electrical disturbance that runs through the nerves.
(iv) Receptors-These are the sense organs which receives the stimulus.
(v) Effectors-Any muscle or the gland where the response occurs.
(vi) Synapse-The terminal branches of the axon of one neuron lie very close to the
dendrites of the other neuron. This point of contact is called a synapse.
Question 5: Mention the three functions of the spinal cord.
Answer: Spinal cord has the following functions:
(i) It controls the reflexes below the neck.
(ii) Conducts messages from skin and muscles to the brain.
(iii) Conducts commands from brain to muscles of trunk and limbs.
Question 6: What is the somatic nervous system responsible for?
Answer: It is responsible for relaying sensations from the body (smell, taste, sound etc.) to the
central nervous system and for sending out commands from the CNS to the skeletal muscles.
Question 7: Name the two systems of the Autonomic Nervous system.
Answer: Sympathetic Nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
Question 8: Define ganglia.
Answer: Ganglia-A mass of cytons of the nerve cells. It relays nerve signals between the PNS
and CNS.
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