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CAIE IGCSE Biology 14.1 Coordination and Response Questions

Practise tracing electrical impulses through nervous pathways, identifying neurones, sequencing reflex arcs and explaining synapses.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Biology 0610

Exam points

  • state that a nerve impulse is an electrical signal travelling along a neurone
  • distinguish the CNS (brain and spinal cord) from the PNS (nerves outside them)
  • identify sensory, relay and motor neurones from their position and impulse direction in diagrams
  • sequence receptor → sensory → relay → motor neurone → effector in a reflex arc
  • explain reflex actions as automatic, rapid responses by muscle or gland effectors without conscious thought
  • define a synapse as the junction between two neurones
  • label vesicles, neurotransmitters, receptors and the synaptic gap on synapse diagrams
  • sequence neurotransmitter release, diffusion across the gap and receptor binding to trigger the next impulse
  • explain one-way synaptic transmission from presynaptic vesicles to postsynaptic receptors
  • use drug or disease evidence to explain impaired transmission through blocked receptors or reduced neurotransmitter release

Covered syllabus points

14.1.1—Electrical impulses travel along14.1.2—Mammalian nervous system14.1.3—Role of the nervous system14.1.4—Sensory, relay and motor neurones14.1.5—Simple reflex arc in terms14.1.6—Reflex action as a means14.1.7—Synapse as a junction between two14.1.8—Structure of a synapse14.1.9—Events at a synapse14.1.10—Synapses ensure that impulses travel

Question 1

[Maximum number: 1]

Heart rate is influenced by electrical impulses from the brain.

State the name of the type of cell that conducts electrical impulses to the heart.

Question 2

[Maximum number: 2]

The eye is a sense organ that is part of the nervous system.

State the two parts of the central nervous system.

1
2

Question 3

[Maximum number: 4]

Question (a)

(a)

Fig. 2.1 shows the structure of the eye. It also shows the pathway taken by nerve impulses which help bring about changes in the eye in order to bring light to a focus.

Fig. 2.1

Fig. 2.1

[ 4 ]

Question (i)

(i)

Draw a label line and a letter X on Fig. 2.1 to identify a motor neurone.

[ 1 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

Describe how the events that occur at a synapse generate an impulse in the next neurone.

[ 3 ]

Question 4

[Maximum number: 1]

Fig. 2.1 shows the structure of the eye. It also shows the pathway taken by nerve impulses which help bring about changes in the eye in order to bring light to a focus.

Fig. 2.1

Fig. 2.1

Draw a label line and a letter X on Fig. 2.1 to identify a motor neurone.

Question 5

[Maximum number: 1]

The nervous system coordinates the responses of animals to changes in their environment.

Fig. 2.2 is a flow chart that shows how an involuntary action is controlled.

Fig. 2.2

Fig. 2.2

State the structure found at X.

Question 6

[Maximum number: 1]

Fig. 1.1 is a diagram showing parts of two organ systems that are active when a person sneezes.

Fig. 1.1

Fig. 1.1

view of part of the gas exchange system

view of part of the nervous system

Sneezing is an automatic action that occurs in response to a stimulus in the nose.

State the name of this type of automatic action.

Question 7

[Maximum number: 1]

The diagram shows the gap between two neurones.

Figure for Question 7 — CAIE IGCSE Biology

What is the name of X ?

A

neurotransmitter

B

receptor

C

synapse

D

vesicle

Question 8

[Maximum number: 2]

Fig. 3.1 is a diagram of the junction between two neurones in a healthy person.
Fig. 3.2 is a diagram of the junction between the same two neurones in a person who has Parkinson's disease. This disease affects the nervous system.

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.2

Fig. 3.2

Identify the parts labelled X and Y in Fig. 3.2.

X
Y

Question 9

[Maximum number: 3]

Pregnancy can occur after the fusion of a male gamete and a female gamete.

Fig. 2.2 shows the junction between two neurones with drug X absent and two neurones with drug X present, immediately after a painful stimulus.

Fig. 2.2

Fig. 2.2

Describe and explain how drug X affects the function of the relay neurone shown in Fig. 2.2.

Question 10

[Maximum number: 2]

Heroin is a drug that acts on the nervous system.

Suggest how the structure of a synapse ensures that impulses travel in one direction.

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