psyc 478: chpt 3
Cells of the Nervous System
Terms
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- Action Potential
- When information must be communicated through a neural network.
- Multipolar Neuron
- The most common neuron in the brain and include interneuron and motor neurons.
- Microglia
- Get rid of garbage.
- Local Circuit Neuron
- A neuron that communicate with neurons in its immediate vicintiy.
- Synaptic Vesicle
- Made of the same material as the membrane. Releases neurotransmitters into the synapse.
- Refractory Period
- All gates remain closed in order for action potential to go the correct way without any backflow.
- Neurotransmitter
- Chemical messages.
- Schwann Cell
- Exist in the peripheral nervous system and provides myelin for axons.
- Glia
- Provide physical and functional support to neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
- Transmitter-Gated Ion Channel
- Open and allow Na+ ions in the extracellular fluid to enter the neurons. Requires a neurotransmitter.
- Myelin
- An insulator that allows the action potential to move down the axon with less energy requirements.
- Axon
- Conducts electrical messages.
- Astrocyte
- Provide structural support and may assist in neural communication.
- Extracellular Fluid
- Fluid surrounding the cells of the body.
- Hyperpolarization
- The interior of the neuron becomes more negative than the normal resting potential (Moves away from zero)
- Presynaptic Autoreceptor
- Provides feedback to the presynaptic neuron on neurotransmitter levels in the synapse.
- IPSP
- A small hyperpolarization produced in the postsynaptic cell as a result of input from the presynaptic cell.
- Projection Neuron
- Neuron with a very long axon.
- Interneurons
- Process and transmit information, acting as a bridge between input and action. (The majority of neurons)
- Voltage-Dependant Ion Channel
- Open and allow Na+ ions in the extracellular fluid to enter the neurons. Requires a change to voltage within the neuron.
- Saltatory Conduction
- Passive. "Jumping" from node to node.
- Node of Ranvier
- The unmyelinated spots on the axon.
- Unipolar Neuron
- Specialized sensory neurons.
- Processes
- (Branches) Dendrites and axon terminals.
- Oligodendrocyte
- Exist in the central nervous system and provides myelin for axons.
- Acetylcholinesterase
- An enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
- Sensory neuron
- Specialized to receive information from the outside world. (Translate light/sound/pressure into neural signals)
- Presynaptic Neuron
- Neuron sending the message.
- Reuptake
- A process for ending the action of neurotransmitters in the synaptic gap in which the presynaptic membrane recaptures the transmitter molecules.
- Resting Potential
- The measurement of the electrical charge across the neural membrane when the cell is not processing information.
- Sodium-Potassium Pump
- Sends three sodium ions out of the cell while sending two potassium ions into the cell.
- Postsynaptic Neuron
- Neuron receiving the message.
- Axon Hillock
- Where the decision is made of a signal is going to be sent down the axon or not.
- Neural Integration
- The determination of whether or not to fire an action potential, based on the summation of inputs to a neuron.
- Motor neuron
- Have axon terminals that terminate onto muscle fibers and glands.
- Depolarization
- The interior of a neuron becomes more positive ( moves toward zero, the charge of the extracellular fluid)
- Metabotropic Receptor
- Protein structure embedded in the postsynaptic membrane containing a recognition site and a G protein. Neurotransmitters binding to these receptors do not directly open ion channels.
- Dendrite
- Receive chemcial messages from other neurons.
- Bipolar Neuron
- Specialized sensory neurons that only exist in the ear and the eye.
- EPSP
- A small depolarization produced in the postsynaptic cell as a result of input from the presynaptic cell.
- Spatial Summation
- Transmitter-gated channels are activated at more than one site in the dendrites of a postynaptic neuron at the same time.
- All Or None Law
- Once started at the axon hillock, the action potential moves down the axon to the axon terminals.
- Temporal Summation
- Transmitter-gated channels at the same site are repeatedly activated in a postynaptic neuron over a short period of time.
- Synapse
- Gaps that exist between axon terminals of a neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron.
- Diffusion
- Distribute equally throughout fluid.
- Ionotropic Receptor
- A receptor protein in the postsynaptic membrane in which the recognition site is located in the same structure as the ion channel.
- Electrical Force
- They are repelled by other molecules with a similar charge.
- Axon Terminal
- The swelling at the end of the axon specialized for the release of neuroransmitter substances.
- Intracellular Fluid
- The fluid found inside the cell.