Edexcel GCSE Biology

Nervous system & neurones

Edexcel GCSE Biology revision on Nervous system & neurones. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0 specification. This bank has 5 practice questions on this topic.

Sample questions (3 of 5)

  1. Question 1

    Which component of a neurone is primarily responsible for increasing the speed of nerve impulse transmission?

    • A) The dendrite network
    • B) The myelin sheath layer
    • C) The axon terminal bulbs
    • D) The cell nucleus body
    Show answer

    Answer: The myelin sheath layer

    The myelin sheath is a fatty layer surrounding the axon that insulates the neurone. This insulation prevents the signal from leaking out, allowing the impulse to 'jump' between nodes, which significantly increases the speed of transmission.

  2. Question 2

    What is the name of the chemical messenger that diffuses across the gap between two neurones?

    Show answer

    Answer: neurotransmitter

    When an electrical impulse reaches the end of an axon, it triggers the release of chemicals into the synapse. These molecules, known as neurotransmitters, diffuse across the gap and bind to receptors on the next neurone to initiate a new electrical impulse.

  3. Question 3

    In a simple reflex arc, which structure is responsible for passing the impulse directly from a sensory neurone to a motor neurone?

    • A) The spinal cord relay
    • B) The effector muscle
    • C) The brain stem centre
    • D) The sensory receptor
    Show answer

    Answer: The spinal cord relay

    Hint: Relay neurones are located within the central nervous system, specifically the spinal cord in a reflex arc. They act as the bridge, ensuring the signal is transferred rapidly from the sensory neurone to the motor neurone without needing conscious thought.

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