A person sees a ball and kicks it, in part because of the actions of the nervous system. Using the parts of the nervous system listed below, describe the path of nerve impulses that cause the person to kick the ball:
- Brain
- Motor neurons
- Sensory neurons
- Spinal cord
Answer (3)
The nervous system uses the brain, spinal cord, motor neurons, and sensory neurons to perform the action of kicking a ball. The brain initiates the action, the spinal cord acts as a relay center, motor neurons signal the muscles to contract, and sensory neurons provide feedback for coordination. ;
When a person sees a ball and decides to kick it, a complex pathway of nerve impulses is involved in executing this action. Initially, sensory neurons in the eyes detect the ball, and this information is relayed to the brain, where the decision to kick the ball is made. The brain then sends signals through motor neurons, with the impulse traveling down the spinal cord, and eventually reaching the muscles of the leg. This entire process involves the coordination of the sensory neurons, the brain, the spinal cord, and the motor neurons.
The motor pathway consists of two cells: the upper motor neuron in the cerebral cortex and the lower motor neuron in the spinal cord. The action potential travels from the upper motor neuron to the lower motor neuron, which then triggers a muscle contraction by releasing neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junction, causing the leg to kick the ball.
The process of kicking a ball involves sensory neurons detecting the ball, the brain processing this information, the spinal cord relaying motor commands, and motor neurons activating the leg muscles. This coordinated effort ensures the smooth execution of the kick. Feedback from sensory neurons further aids in balancing and coordinating the movement.
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