WNI082 The Nervous System 

Diploma Title

Access to HE Health professionals

Subject Group:

Biological Science

Unit title:

The Nervous system

Unit Code:

WNI082

Unit Status

Graded

Credit Value

3 Credits

Learning Outcome

Assessment criteria applied to this assignment*

1. Understand the structure and function of the nervous system.

1.1 Describe the structure of the central nervous system, sensory, connector and motor neurons.
1.2 Explain the role of sensory and motor neurones in a reflex arc.
1.3 Explain the mechanism of transmission of an impulse along a neurone.
1.4 Measure reaction times and evaluate the results.
1.5 Explain the effects of one of the following on the transmission of nerve impulses: caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines or cocaine.

2. Understand the autonomic nervous system.

2.1 Compare voluntary and reflex actions and explain the role of the autonomic nervous system.

3. Understand the effects a disorder can have on the nervous system.

3.1 Explain the effect of a disorder of the nervous system.

Assignment Task Description (mapped to assessment criteria)

Assessment criteria

1. Write a practical report on investigating nerve impulse transmissions through reaction times. The report should have the following sections: Title, introduction, results, discussion, and conclusion.

Introduction
You need to demonstrate your background understanding of the nervous system. You must introduce the following concepts:

♦ A description of the structure of the central nervous system and sensory, connector and motor neurones, to include the Brain, Spinal Cord, Neurons (dendrites, axon, axon hillock, cell body, myelin sheath, node of Ranvier, and synapses)
♦ An explanation for the role of the sensory and motor neurones in reflex arc.
♦ An explanation for the mechanisms of transmission of an impulse along a neurone, to include the following events:
o Resting potential
o Graded potential
o Depolarisation
o Repolarisation
o Hyperpolarisation

♦ A comparison of voluntary and reflex actions
♦ An explanation for the role of the autonomic nervous system to include sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. 

Methodology
Describe how you will conduct the experiment to measure reaction times 

Results
Describe the data you obtained from the experiment. Graphs and tables must be used here.

Discussion
The discussion of your results is to include:
a) An explanation of how one of the following substances can impact the transmission of nerve impulses and how the results of the reaction time tests could have been impacted if participants had been exposed to differing levels of:

• Caffeine
• Nicotine
• Amphetamines
• Cocaine.

Reference should be made to relevant transmitters that are released and the physiological effects.

b) An explanation of how one of the following disorders can impact the nervous system, including neurones, impulses, synaptic transmissions or neurotransmitters,

• Alzheimer’s
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease,
• Meningitis
• Brain tumours.

Conclusion
This should be a short summary of the report.
The introduction and discussion should be referenced consistently.

Advisory word count for the report is 2000 words.

1.1

1.2

1.3

 2.1

1.4

1.4

1.5

3.1