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Pill

Theme C - Interaction &  Interdependence

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Direct Hit

Theme A - Unity & diversity

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Page Facing Up

Theme B - Form & Function

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Keycap Digit One

Theme D - Continuity & Change

🎈 Pop Quiz: When you decide to stand up from your cozy chair, do you know who&#39;s calling the shots? It&#39;s your brain! Specifically, the cerebral hemispheres. Let&rsquo;s dive in!

<ul>
	<li>Role: Controls striated muscles (the ones attached to bones) and some glands.</li>
	<li>Special mention: Primary motor cortex &ndash; it&#39;s like the command center that sends out signals to your muscles. Imagine it as the boss of a company, giving orders!</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Location: Attached to bones.</li>
	<li>Functions
	<ul>
		<li>Helps you move (locomotion).</li>
		<li>Keeps you upright (controls posture).</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
	<li>Fun Fact: You control them consciously! Like when you dance to your favorite song or flex your muscles in the mirror.</li>
</ul>

To move, signals (or nerve impulses) travel from the motor cortex via motor neurons to muscles.

<ul>
	<li>Real-World Example: Think of motor neurons as highways. If the brain wants to tell the leg muscles to stand up, it sends a signal (like a car) zooming down the highway to the destination.</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Location: Cell body and dendrites are in the grey matter of cerebral hemispheres.</li>
	<li>Dendrites
	<ul>
		<li>They&#39;re like the many little roads connecting to the main highway.</li>
		<li>They receive signals from relay neurons and send them to the cell body.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
	<li>Axons
	<ul>
		<li>Long &quot;roads&quot; extending from the cell body.</li>
		<li>For some muscles, the axon length can be a metre or more! That&#39;s like the length of a big guitar!</li>
		<li>These axons bundle up with others in nerves, sometimes with sensory neuron axons.</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>Signal travels via the first motor neuron&rsquo;s axon down the spine.</li>
	<li>Makes a pitstop (forms a synapse) with a second motor neuron.</li>
	<li>Second neuron&#39;s axon leads to a specific striated muscle.</li>
	<li>Real-World Example: Like a relay race, where one racer passes the baton (signal) to the next racer (neuron).</li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li>When the nerve impulse finally reaches the end of the journey, the muscle fibers get into action, contracting.</li>
	<li>Some glands might also secrete substances because of these signals.
	<ul>
		<li>Real-World Example: When you get excited, your sweat glands secrete more sweat. Ever got those nervous sweaty palms? Thank the signals from your brain!</li>
	</ul>
	</li>
</ul>

Wrap-Up: The next time you make a move, remember there&#39;s a whole relay race happening inside your body, thanks to your brain and motor neurons. So, every dance move or flex is your body&#39;s grand performance, with the brain being the choreographer! 🕺🎉

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Happy studying and remember, every small movement you make is a wonder of biology in action! 🌟📚🔬

Theme C - Interaction & Interdependence

Unlocking Cerebral Outputs A Guide To Motor Neurons

Table of content

The mighty brain - cerebral hemispheres 🧠

Striated muscles - the unsung heroes 🦴💪

Signals & motor neurons - the brain-muscle connection 🚦🧠➡️💪