Biopsychology Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is the cell membrane?
The semipermeable membrane that encloses the neuron.
It regulates the movement of substances in and out of the neuron.
What are dendrites?
The short processes emanating from the cell body, which receive most of the synaptic contacts from other neurons.
They play a crucial role in neural communication.
What is the axon hillock?
The cone-shaped region at the junction between the axon and the cell body.
It is critical for the initiation of action potentials.
Define axon.
The long, narrow process that projects from the cell body.
Axons are responsible for transmitting electrical signals away from the neuron.
What is the cell body also known as?
The soma.
It serves as the metabolic center of the neuron.
What is myelin?
The fatty insulation around many axons.
Myelin increases the speed of electrical impulses along the axon.
What are the Nodes of Ranvier?
The gaps between sections of myelin.
These nodes facilitate the rapid conduction of nerve impulses.
What are buttons in the context of a neuron?
The buttonlike endings of the axon branches, which release chemicals into synapses.
They are essential for neurotransmission.
Define synapses.
The gaps between adjacent neurons across which chemical signals are transmitted.
Synapses are critical for communication between neurons.
What are the two types of gross neural structures in the nervous system?
Those composed primarily of cell bodies and those composed primarily of axons.
This classification helps in understanding the organization of the nervous system.
What are clusters of cell bodies called in the central nervous system?
Nuclei (singular nucleus).
Nuclei are important for processing information within the brain.
What are clusters of cell bodies called in the peripheral nervous system?
Ganglia (singular ganglion).
Ganglia play a role in transmitting signals to and from the central nervous system.
True or False: The term ‘nucleus’ has two different neuroanatomical meanings.
True.
It can refer to both a cluster of cell bodies in the central nervous system and a specific part of a cell.
What are the structures in the central nervous system called?
Nuclei
What are the structures in the peripheral nervous system called?
Ganglia (singular: ganglion)
What are the two different neuroanatomical meanings of the word ‘nucleus’?
- Spherical DNA-containing structure of the cell body
- Collection of neuron cell bodies in the central nervous system
What role do ribosomes play in a neuron?
Synthesize proteins
What is the function of the endoplasmic reticulum in a neuron?
Synthesis of proteins and fats
What are the major internal features of a neuron?
- Endoplasmic reticulum
- Cytoplasm
- Ribosomes
- Golgi complex
- Nucleus
- Mitochondria
- Microtubules
- Synaptic vesicles
- Neurotransmitters
What is the function of the Golgi complex in a neuron?
Packages molecules in vesicles
What do mitochondria do in a neuron?
Sites of aerobic (oxygen-consuming) energy production
What are microtubules responsible for in a neuron?
Rapid transport of molecules throughout the neuron
What are synaptic vesicles?
Membrane-bound sacs that store neurotransmitter molecules ready to release near synapses
What are neurotransmitters?
Molecules that are released from active neurons and influence the activity of other cells
