AQA BIOLOGY PAPER 2 STUDY GUIDE FINAL
PAPER EXAM FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS 2026 GUARANTEED TO PASS.
◍ nervous system - A conglomeration of billions of cells specifically
designed to provide a communication network within the human
body.
◍ receptors - Special structures that allow living organisms to sense
the conditions of their internal or external environment
◍ stimuli - Changes, occurring within or outside the body, that affect
nervous system functioning.
◍ coordination centres - receive and process info from receptors
◍ effectors - muscles or glands that carry out the correct response to
stimuli
◍ nerve - A cordlike bundle of neuronal axons and/or dendrites and
associated connective tissue coursing together outside the central
nervous system
◍ central nervous system - The brain and spinal cord; CNS
,◍ sensory neurones - nerve cells that carry messages from cells in the
sense organs to the CNS
◍ motor neurones - Nerve cells that carry messages from the CNS to
effectors
◍ gland - An organ that produces and releases chemicals either
through ducts or into the bloodstream.
◍ reflex - A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as
the knee-jerk response. Automatic and rapid; they do not involve the
conscious part of the brain.
◍ reflex arc - nerve pathway in which an impulse crosses only two
synapses before producing a response; stimulus - receptor - sensory
neurone - relay neurone - motor neurone - effector - response
◍ neurotransmitters - Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic
gaps between neurons.
◍ relay neurones - Nerve cells that carry signals from sensory
neurones to motor neurones
◍ cerebral cortex - The part of the brain where information
processing takes place. Divided into four lobes.
,◍ medulla - The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and
breathing.
◍ hypothalamus - A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it
directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body
temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary
gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.
◍ pituitary gland - The endocrine system's most influential gland.
Under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and
controls other endocrine glands.
◍ cerebellum - A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine
motor skills.
◍ accommodation - The process by which the eye's lens changes
shape to focus near or far objects on the retina.
◍ iris - A ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the
eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening.
◍ pupil - The adjustable opening in the center of the eye through
which light enters.
, ◍ cornea - Clear membrane at the front of the globe covering the iris,
pupil, and anterior chamber. Responsible for 60% of the eye's
focusing power.
◍ lens - The transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape
to help focus images on the retina.
◍ retina - The light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the
receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the
processing of visual information.
◍ sclera - Dense fibrous opaque outer coat enclosing the eyeball
except the part covered by the cornea; The "white" of the eye
◍ ciliary muscle - muscle that alters the shape of lens to
accommodate vision
◍ suspensory ligament - A series of fibres that hold the lens of the eye
in place
◍ optic nerve - the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to
the brain
◍ circular muscles - Muscles found in the iris that contract in bright
light and relax in dim light
PAPER EXAM FULL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS 2026 GUARANTEED TO PASS.
◍ nervous system - A conglomeration of billions of cells specifically
designed to provide a communication network within the human
body.
◍ receptors - Special structures that allow living organisms to sense
the conditions of their internal or external environment
◍ stimuli - Changes, occurring within or outside the body, that affect
nervous system functioning.
◍ coordination centres - receive and process info from receptors
◍ effectors - muscles or glands that carry out the correct response to
stimuli
◍ nerve - A cordlike bundle of neuronal axons and/or dendrites and
associated connective tissue coursing together outside the central
nervous system
◍ central nervous system - The brain and spinal cord; CNS
,◍ sensory neurones - nerve cells that carry messages from cells in the
sense organs to the CNS
◍ motor neurones - Nerve cells that carry messages from the CNS to
effectors
◍ gland - An organ that produces and releases chemicals either
through ducts or into the bloodstream.
◍ reflex - A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as
the knee-jerk response. Automatic and rapid; they do not involve the
conscious part of the brain.
◍ reflex arc - nerve pathway in which an impulse crosses only two
synapses before producing a response; stimulus - receptor - sensory
neurone - relay neurone - motor neurone - effector - response
◍ neurotransmitters - Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic
gaps between neurons.
◍ relay neurones - Nerve cells that carry signals from sensory
neurones to motor neurones
◍ cerebral cortex - The part of the brain where information
processing takes place. Divided into four lobes.
,◍ medulla - The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and
breathing.
◍ hypothalamus - A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it
directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body
temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary
gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.
◍ pituitary gland - The endocrine system's most influential gland.
Under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and
controls other endocrine glands.
◍ cerebellum - A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine
motor skills.
◍ accommodation - The process by which the eye's lens changes
shape to focus near or far objects on the retina.
◍ iris - A ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the
eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening.
◍ pupil - The adjustable opening in the center of the eye through
which light enters.
, ◍ cornea - Clear membrane at the front of the globe covering the iris,
pupil, and anterior chamber. Responsible for 60% of the eye's
focusing power.
◍ lens - The transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape
to help focus images on the retina.
◍ retina - The light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the
receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the
processing of visual information.
◍ sclera - Dense fibrous opaque outer coat enclosing the eyeball
except the part covered by the cornea; The "white" of the eye
◍ ciliary muscle - muscle that alters the shape of lens to
accommodate vision
◍ suspensory ligament - A series of fibres that hold the lens of the eye
in place
◍ optic nerve - the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to
the brain
◍ circular muscles - Muscles found in the iris that contract in bright
light and relax in dim light
