St. Peter’s School, Mazagaon, Mumbai- 400010.

Online study material

Subject: Biology Std: X
Chapter: Nervous system
➢ Instructions:
• Read the study material given below carefully.
• Copy the notes in your note book.
• Diagram based questions to be done along with the diagram.
• Refer to concise biology for detail understanding of the topic.
• Copy and solve the worksheet neatly in your note book.

Q1) Define the following terms:

1) Stimulus: A stimulus is any agent or an environmental change which
initiates a response in the body.
2) Response: the change in an organism resulting due to stimulus.
3) Impulse: a wave of irritability over the nerve cell.
4) Nerve: Nerve is a bundle of nerve fibres of separate neurons, enclosed in
a tubular sheath.
5) Synapse: Synapse is the point of contact between the terminal branches of
the axon of a neuron with the dendrites of another neuron separated by a
fine gap.
6) Reflex action: It is an automatic/ quick/ immediate, involuntary action in
the body brought about by a stimulus.
7) Reflex arc: A reflex arc is the shortest route that can be taken by an
impulse from a receptor to an effector
8) Conditioned reflex: A conditioned reflex is an involuntary, spontaneous
automatic response brought about due to a previously learned experience.
Q2) Give the exact location and function of the following:
Structure Location Function
1. Cerebral cortex Outer portion of the Enables us to think,
cerebrum reason or, invent, plan
and memories.
2. Cerebellum Just at the base and under Maintains balance of
the cerebrum the body and co-
ordinates muscular
activity.
3. Corpus callosum Between the two cerebral Transfers nerve impulses
hemispheres internally. from one cerebral
hemisphere to the other.
4. Medulla oblongata Lowest portion of the Control involuntary
brain at the base of the activities of internal
skull. organs like peristalsis of
the alimentary canal,
movement of breathing,
beating of heart etc.
5. Pons varolli Centre of the brain below Carries impulses from
the cerebellum. one cerebellum
hemisphere to other, co-
ordinates muscular
movement on both sides
of the body.
6. Thalamus In the Diencephalon. Relays pain and pressure
impulses from various
parts of the body of
cerebrum.
7. Hypothalamus Below the thalamus in Controls body
the Diencephalon. temperature, anger,
hunger, thirst and the
pituitary/ also controls
the pituitary gland.
8. Mid brain Small tubular part of the Reflexes involving eyes
brain. and ears.
9. ANS(Autonomic Pair of chain of nerves Control involuntary
Nervous System) and ganglia on either side actions of the internal
of the backbone. organs.
10.SNS(Sympathetic Nerves arise from the Prepares the body for
Nervous System) spinal cord between the violent action against
neck and the waist abnormal conditions.
region.
11.PNS(Parasympathetic Nerves anteriorly in the Concerned with re-
nervous system) head and neck and the establishing normal
other posterior in sacral conditions after the
region. violent act is over.
12.Cerebrospinal fluid Between the meninges, Acts like a cushion and
ventricles of the brain, protects the brain and
central canal of the spinal spinal cord from injuries
cord. by absorbing mechanical
shocks.
 13.Spinal cord Extends from the Concerned with reflexes
Medulla oblongata down below the neck, conducts
almost the whole length sensory impulses from
of the backbone to the the skin and muscles to
end of second lumbar the brain, conducts motor
vertebra and lies within responses from the brain
the neural canal of the to the muscles of the
vertebrae. trunk and limbs.

Q3) Diagram based questions:

Question 1:
Study the diagram given below and answer the questions that follows:

1) Name the parts labelled A, B and C in the diagram.

Ans. A – Cerebrum , B- cerebellum , C- Spinal cord .
2) State the main function of the parts labelled A and B.
Ans. A – Cerebrum : seat of intelligence, seat of memory, seat of thinking,
consciousness and will- power . It controls voluntary actions.
B- Cerebellum : Maintains balance of the body and co-ordinates
muscular activity.
3) Mention the collective term for the membranes covering the brain.
Ans. Meninges.
4) What is the function of cerebrospinal fluid?
Ans Acts like a cushion and protects the brain and spinal cord from injuries
by absorbing mechanical shocks, provide nutrients, exchange of respiratory
gases.
5) What are the structural and functional units of the brain? How are the
parts of these units arranged in A and C?
Ans. A – Cerebrum : gray matter outside consist of cytons of the neurons
and white matter inside containing axons of the neurons.
C- Spinal cord: gray matter inside consist of cytons of the neurons and
white matter outside consist of axons of the neurons.

Question 2 :
The diagram given below is a representation of a certain phenomenon
pertaining to the nervous system. Study the diagram and answer the
following questions:

1) Name the phenomenon that is being depicted in the given diagram.

Ans. Reflex action.
2) Give the technical term for the point of contact between the two nerve
cells.
Ans. Synapse.
3) Name the parts numbered 1,2 and 3 .
 Ans. 1- sensory nerve
2- motor nerve
3 – Gray matter
4) How does the arrangement of neurons in the spinal cord differ from that
of the brain?
Ans. In brain, gray matter outside consist of cytons of the neurons and
white matter inside containing axons of the neurons.
Spinal cord: gray matter inside consist of cytons of the neurons and
white matter outside consist of axons of the neurons.
5) Mention two ways by which the spinal cord is protected in our body
Ans. Meninges and vertebral column.

Worksheet
Q1) Name the following:
1. The fluid that is present inside and outside the brain.
2. The junction between two nerve cells.
3. The part of the brain concerned with memory.
4. The part of the human brain which controls body temperature.
5. The membranes surroundings the brain and the spinal cord.
6. The part of the brain concerned with the control of breathing.
7. The structural and functional units of the nervous system.
8. The part of the nervous system which prepares the body for an
emergency.
Q2) Draw a neat and labelled diagram of the following:
a. A myelinated neuron
b. Path of a reflex arc