AQA · GCSE · BIOLOGY
Paper 2 Complete Q&A
Verified Flashcards · Study Guide
BOARD LEVEL S TAT U S YEAR
AQA GCSE Verified 2026
Comprehensive Q&A study guide for AQA GCSE Biology Paper 2.
All questions and answers reproduced exactly as written.
,📋 Questions & Answers
160+ Verified Terms AQA GCSE Biology · Paper 2
What is homeostasis? What is a stimulus?
The maintenance of a constant A change in your environment than
internal environment. requires a response. e.g. Light, sound,
touch, pressure, pain, chemical or
temperature.
What do the receptors do? What happens after the receptors?
Detect the stimulus or change in Receptors send messages to the CNS
environment. via the sensory neurone.
What makes up the central nervous What is an effector?
system?
Muscles or glands that bring about a
The brain or spinal cord response.
What do the muscles and glands do What is a sensory neurone?
in response to stimuli?
A neurone that carry information from
Muscles contract and glands secrete the receptors to the CNS.
chemical substances(hormones).
,What is a relay neurone? What is a motor neurone?
Neurones that carry impulses from the Neurones that carry information from
sensory neurone to the motor the CNS to the effectors.
neurone.
What is the nervous system? How do signals travel across a
synapse?
It is a system that allows you to react
to your surroundings. The chemical or neurotransmitter
diffuses across the synapse and binds
to a complementary receptor on the
neurone (postsynaptic). This causes an
electrical impulse to travel down the
next neurone.
What is a synapse? What is the thermoregulatory
centre of the brain?
A gap between two neurones.
Near the hypothalamus, monitors the
temperature of blood.
Describe the stages in a reflex arc. Name responses that reduce body
temperature.
Stimulus- >Receptor- >sensory
neurone- >CNS (relay neurone) - > Hairs lie flat, sweat and blood vessels
motor neurone - > effector - > get wider (vasodilation)
response
, What happens during vasodilation? Name responses that increase body
temperature.
The blood vessels supplying the skin
dilate (widen). This helps to transfer Hairs stand up, no sweat, shivering
energy to the environment. and blood vessels constrict
(vasoconstriction)
What happens during What is the body's core temp?
vasoconstriction?
37 degrees Celsius
The blood vessels supplying the skin
constrict to close off the skins blood
supply.
What are hormones? Compare and Contrast the
endocrine (hormone) system and
the nervous system.
Chemical messengers that travel in the
blood to target organs.
Nervous is faster acting than the
endocrine system. Hormones have
longer lasting effects compared to
electrical impulses. Nerves act on a
very specific area whereas hormones
act more general.
What does the thyroid gland do? What do the adrenal glands do?
Produces thyroxine which is involved Produce adrenaline which is used to
in regulating metabolism. prepare the body for fight or flight.
Paper 2 Complete Q&A
Verified Flashcards · Study Guide
BOARD LEVEL S TAT U S YEAR
AQA GCSE Verified 2026
Comprehensive Q&A study guide for AQA GCSE Biology Paper 2.
All questions and answers reproduced exactly as written.
,📋 Questions & Answers
160+ Verified Terms AQA GCSE Biology · Paper 2
What is homeostasis? What is a stimulus?
The maintenance of a constant A change in your environment than
internal environment. requires a response. e.g. Light, sound,
touch, pressure, pain, chemical or
temperature.
What do the receptors do? What happens after the receptors?
Detect the stimulus or change in Receptors send messages to the CNS
environment. via the sensory neurone.
What makes up the central nervous What is an effector?
system?
Muscles or glands that bring about a
The brain or spinal cord response.
What do the muscles and glands do What is a sensory neurone?
in response to stimuli?
A neurone that carry information from
Muscles contract and glands secrete the receptors to the CNS.
chemical substances(hormones).
,What is a relay neurone? What is a motor neurone?
Neurones that carry impulses from the Neurones that carry information from
sensory neurone to the motor the CNS to the effectors.
neurone.
What is the nervous system? How do signals travel across a
synapse?
It is a system that allows you to react
to your surroundings. The chemical or neurotransmitter
diffuses across the synapse and binds
to a complementary receptor on the
neurone (postsynaptic). This causes an
electrical impulse to travel down the
next neurone.
What is a synapse? What is the thermoregulatory
centre of the brain?
A gap between two neurones.
Near the hypothalamus, monitors the
temperature of blood.
Describe the stages in a reflex arc. Name responses that reduce body
temperature.
Stimulus- >Receptor- >sensory
neurone- >CNS (relay neurone) - > Hairs lie flat, sweat and blood vessels
motor neurone - > effector - > get wider (vasodilation)
response
, What happens during vasodilation? Name responses that increase body
temperature.
The blood vessels supplying the skin
dilate (widen). This helps to transfer Hairs stand up, no sweat, shivering
energy to the environment. and blood vessels constrict
(vasoconstriction)
What happens during What is the body's core temp?
vasoconstriction?
37 degrees Celsius
The blood vessels supplying the skin
constrict to close off the skins blood
supply.
What are hormones? Compare and Contrast the
endocrine (hormone) system and
the nervous system.
Chemical messengers that travel in the
blood to target organs.
Nervous is faster acting than the
endocrine system. Hormones have
longer lasting effects compared to
electrical impulses. Nerves act on a
very specific area whereas hormones
act more general.
What does the thyroid gland do? What do the adrenal glands do?
Produces thyroxine which is involved Produce adrenaline which is used to
in regulating metabolism. prepare the body for fight or flight.
