AQA GCSE Biology Paper 2
What is homeostasis? - Correct Answers-The maintenance of a constant internal environment.
What is a stimulus? - Correct Answers-A change in your environment than requires a response.
e.g Light, sound, touch, pressure, pain, chemical or temperature.
What do the receptors do? - Correct Answers-Detect the stimulus or change in environment.
What happens after the receptors? - Correct Answers-Receptors send messages to the CNS via
the sensory neurone.
What makes up the central nervous system? - Correct Answers-The brain or spinal cord
What is an effector? - Correct Answers-Muscles or glands that bring about a response.
What do the muscles and glands do in response to stimuli? - Correct Answers-Muscles contract
and glands secrete chemical substances(hormones).
What is a sensory neurone? - Correct Answers-A neurone that carry information from the
receptors to the CNS.
What is a relay neurone? - Correct Answers-Neurones that carry impulses from the sensory
neurone to the motor neurone.
What is a motor neurone? - Correct Answers-Neurones that carry information from the CNS to
the effectors.
What is the nervous system? - Correct Answers-It is a system that allows you to react to your
surroundings.
How do signals travel across a synapse? - Correct Answers-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? - Correct Answers-A gap between two neurones.
What is the thermoregulatory centre of the brain? - Correct Answers-Near the hypothalamus,
,monitors the temperature of blood.
Describe the stages in a reflex arc. - Correct Answers-Stimulus->Receptor->sensory neurone-
>CNS (relay neurone) -> motor neurone -> effector -> response
Name responses that reduce body temperature. - Correct Answers-Hairs lie flat, sweat and
blood vessels get wider(vasodilation)
What happens during vasodilation? - Correct Answers-The blood vessels supplying the skin
dilate (widen). This helps to transfer energy to the environment.
Name responses that increase body temperature. - Correct Answers-Hairs stand up, no sweat,
shivering and blood vessels constrict(vasoconstriction)
What happens during vasoconstriction? - Correct Answers-The blood vessels supplying the skin
constrict to close off the skins blood supply.
What is the body's core temp? - Correct Answers-37 degrees Celsius
What are hormones? - Correct Answers-Chemical messengers that travel in the blood to target
organs.
Compare and Contrast the endocrine (hormone) system and the nervous system. - Correct
Answers-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? - Correct Answers-Produces thyroxine which is involved in
regulating metabolism.
What do the adrenal glands do? - Correct Answers-Produce adrenaline which is used to prepare
the body for fight or flight.
What is the role of the pancreas? - Correct Answers-Produces glucagon and insulin which are
involved in regulating glucose levels in the blood.
Name the hormone that is released if blood sugar is too high. - Correct Answers-Insulin
What does insulin do? - Correct Answers-It makes the liver convert glucose into glycogen. This
causes blood glucose levels to decrease.
, Name the hormone that is released if blood sugar is too low. - Correct Answers-Glucagon
What does glucagon do? HINT GLU-COSE-GONE - Correct Answers-It makes the liver convert
glycogen to glucose. This causes the blood glucose level to increase.
What is type I diabetes? - Correct Answers-When the pancreas produces little or no insulin.
What is type II diabetes? - Correct Answers-When a person becomes resistant to their own
insulin. Being overweight can increase your chances of type II diabetes.
How can type I diabetes be treated? - Correct Answers-Insulin injections, limiting intake of
foods rich is simple carbohydrates e.g. sugars and regular exercise.
How can type II diabetes be treated? - Correct Answers-It can be controlled by eating a
carbohydrate controlled diet and getting regular exercise.
What is the role of the kidneys. - Correct Answers-Kidneys make urine by taking unwanted
waste products out of your blood. They are involved in selective reabsorption.
Name three things that are re-absorbed by the kidneys into the blood. - Correct Answers-
Glucose, water and ions.
Name three things that are removed from the body in the urine. - Correct Answers-Urea, water
and ions.
What is deamination? - Correct Answers-Proteins (excess amino acids) cannot be stored by the
body. Excess amino acids are converted to fats and carbohydrates. This occurs in the liver.
What is produced as a waste product of deamination? - Correct Answers-Ammonia is produced
as a waste product. Ammonia is toxic so it is converted into urea in the liver.
What hormone controls the amount of water absorbed by the kidneys? - Correct Answers-ADH
What happens when the concentration of water in the blood is too low. I.e. the Blood is MORE
concentrated. - Correct Answers-Receptors in the hypothalamus detects the water content is
too low. The coordinator in the brain receives the information and coordinates a response. The
pituitary gland produces MORE (Anti-diuretic hormone) ADH, which makes the kidney tubule
MORE permeable. This means that MORE water is reabsorbed into the bloodstream. The
kidneys produce a small volume of concentrated urine.
What is homeostasis? - Correct Answers-The maintenance of a constant internal environment.
What is a stimulus? - Correct Answers-A change in your environment than requires a response.
e.g Light, sound, touch, pressure, pain, chemical or temperature.
What do the receptors do? - Correct Answers-Detect the stimulus or change in environment.
What happens after the receptors? - Correct Answers-Receptors send messages to the CNS via
the sensory neurone.
What makes up the central nervous system? - Correct Answers-The brain or spinal cord
What is an effector? - Correct Answers-Muscles or glands that bring about a response.
What do the muscles and glands do in response to stimuli? - Correct Answers-Muscles contract
and glands secrete chemical substances(hormones).
What is a sensory neurone? - Correct Answers-A neurone that carry information from the
receptors to the CNS.
What is a relay neurone? - Correct Answers-Neurones that carry impulses from the sensory
neurone to the motor neurone.
What is a motor neurone? - Correct Answers-Neurones that carry information from the CNS to
the effectors.
What is the nervous system? - Correct Answers-It is a system that allows you to react to your
surroundings.
How do signals travel across a synapse? - Correct Answers-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? - Correct Answers-A gap between two neurones.
What is the thermoregulatory centre of the brain? - Correct Answers-Near the hypothalamus,
,monitors the temperature of blood.
Describe the stages in a reflex arc. - Correct Answers-Stimulus->Receptor->sensory neurone-
>CNS (relay neurone) -> motor neurone -> effector -> response
Name responses that reduce body temperature. - Correct Answers-Hairs lie flat, sweat and
blood vessels get wider(vasodilation)
What happens during vasodilation? - Correct Answers-The blood vessels supplying the skin
dilate (widen). This helps to transfer energy to the environment.
Name responses that increase body temperature. - Correct Answers-Hairs stand up, no sweat,
shivering and blood vessels constrict(vasoconstriction)
What happens during vasoconstriction? - Correct Answers-The blood vessels supplying the skin
constrict to close off the skins blood supply.
What is the body's core temp? - Correct Answers-37 degrees Celsius
What are hormones? - Correct Answers-Chemical messengers that travel in the blood to target
organs.
Compare and Contrast the endocrine (hormone) system and the nervous system. - Correct
Answers-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? - Correct Answers-Produces thyroxine which is involved in
regulating metabolism.
What do the adrenal glands do? - Correct Answers-Produce adrenaline which is used to prepare
the body for fight or flight.
What is the role of the pancreas? - Correct Answers-Produces glucagon and insulin which are
involved in regulating glucose levels in the blood.
Name the hormone that is released if blood sugar is too high. - Correct Answers-Insulin
What does insulin do? - Correct Answers-It makes the liver convert glucose into glycogen. This
causes blood glucose levels to decrease.
, Name the hormone that is released if blood sugar is too low. - Correct Answers-Glucagon
What does glucagon do? HINT GLU-COSE-GONE - Correct Answers-It makes the liver convert
glycogen to glucose. This causes the blood glucose level to increase.
What is type I diabetes? - Correct Answers-When the pancreas produces little or no insulin.
What is type II diabetes? - Correct Answers-When a person becomes resistant to their own
insulin. Being overweight can increase your chances of type II diabetes.
How can type I diabetes be treated? - Correct Answers-Insulin injections, limiting intake of
foods rich is simple carbohydrates e.g. sugars and regular exercise.
How can type II diabetes be treated? - Correct Answers-It can be controlled by eating a
carbohydrate controlled diet and getting regular exercise.
What is the role of the kidneys. - Correct Answers-Kidneys make urine by taking unwanted
waste products out of your blood. They are involved in selective reabsorption.
Name three things that are re-absorbed by the kidneys into the blood. - Correct Answers-
Glucose, water and ions.
Name three things that are removed from the body in the urine. - Correct Answers-Urea, water
and ions.
What is deamination? - Correct Answers-Proteins (excess amino acids) cannot be stored by the
body. Excess amino acids are converted to fats and carbohydrates. This occurs in the liver.
What is produced as a waste product of deamination? - Correct Answers-Ammonia is produced
as a waste product. Ammonia is toxic so it is converted into urea in the liver.
What hormone controls the amount of water absorbed by the kidneys? - Correct Answers-ADH
What happens when the concentration of water in the blood is too low. I.e. the Blood is MORE
concentrated. - Correct Answers-Receptors in the hypothalamus detects the water content is
too low. The coordinator in the brain receives the information and coordinates a response. The
pituitary gland produces MORE (Anti-diuretic hormone) ADH, which makes the kidney tubule
MORE permeable. This means that MORE water is reabsorbed into the bloodstream. The
kidneys produce a small volume of concentrated urine.
