Nervous System, Coordination and the Senses

What this unit covers

The resources here follow the path of a signal through the body. They start with a stimulus and the receptors that detect it, move along neurones and across synapses, and end with a response. Several resources also cover hormones, the brain and the senses, so you can see how the nervous and endocrine systems fit together.

Where to start

If you want the big picture first, open the notes called GCSE Biology Module B6. They explain that a change in the environment is a stimulus and that organisms must respond to survive. The mind map Coordination and Response in Humans then adds homeostasis and negative feedback. A-level students can try the slide set A-Level Biology: Control in Animals & Plants, which links the nervous and endocrine systems through the hypothalamus.

Build up the detail

1. Study The reflex arc mind map, then test yourself with the 0654 B9 Coordination & Response Quiz, which asks for the sequence of nerve cells in a reflex action.
2. Move on to the Synaptic Transmission flowchart and the mind maps on nerve impulses and neurotransmitters.
3. Learn the senses with The Eye mind map, then the OCR GCSE Biology - the eye quiz, which asks about the role of the cornea.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first and cover it up. Then take a quiz on the same topic, such as OCR Biology - nervous system. Wrong answers show which branch of the map to go back to. Flashcard decks such as Labeling a Neuron and Neuronal Communication suit short, repeated practice. Teachers can pick a map, quiz or deck to set as a starter or a recap.

Where it sits

This unit belongs to the Coordination and Control strand of Biology and natural sciences. Everything was made by GoConqr users, so wording and exam focus vary from one resource to the next. Choose one resource today, then try building a map or deck of your own on the part that still feels shaky.