1. Neuronal Structure and Function

Question 1

What are neurons?

Answer 1

specialized cells that transmit and process information from one part of the body to another

Question 2

What are action potentials?

Answer 2

electrochemical impulses, localized area of depolarization of the plasma membrane that travels in a wave-like manner along an axon

Question 3

What is synaptic transmission?

Answer 3

process by which the action potential reaches the end of an axon at a synapse and the signal is transformed into a chemical signal with the release of a neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft

Question 4

What is a soma?

Answer 4

neuronal cell body that contains the nucleus

Question 5

What are axons/dendrites?

Answer 5

slender projections that extend from the neuronal cell body

Question 6

What does it mean for a neuron to be considered bipolar?

Answer 6

only contains one dendrite

Question 7

What does it mean for a neuron to be considered multipolar?

Answer 7

contains multiple dendrites

Question 8

What are synaptic knobs?

Answer 8

terminal branch of axons that forms connections with target cells

Question 9

What is the synaptic cleft?

Answer 9

small gap between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of the next neuron

Question 10

Where are chemical messengers released between neurons?

Answer 10

synaptic cleft

Question 11

What are the two primary proteins that help establish the resting membrane potential?

Answer 11

Na/K ATPase
potassium leak channels

Question 12

What is the resting membrane potential?

Answer 12

electrical potential across the plasma membrane; -70mV

Question 13

What does the Na/K ATPase protein do?

Answer 13

pumps three sodium ions out of the cell and two potassium ions into the cells with the hydrolysis of one ATP

Question 14

What does it mean for a neuron cell to be polarized?

Answer 14

cells are negative on the inside and positive on the outside

Question 15

What does it mean for a neuron to be depolarized?

Answer 15

change in the membrane potential from resting to a less negative, or more positive, potential

Question 16

What does repolarization mean?

Answer 16

return of the membrane potential to resting from a depolarized state

Question 17

What is myelin?

Answer 17

insulation sheath that surrounds axons in certain locations

Question 18

What are the nodes of Ranvier?

Answer 18

periodic gaps in the myelin sheath

Question 19

What is saltatory conduction?

Answer 19

process of myelin sheath dramatically speeding up the movement of action potentials by forcing the action potential to jump from node to node