Chapter 1 Flashcards
Santiagio Raman Cajal
- demonstrated that the nervous system is composed of separate cells.
- neuron theory.
the nervous system
the network of nerve cells and fibers.
- body’s communication system.
central nervous system
the brain and the spinal cord.
peripheral nervous system
sensory and motor fibers that connect the CNS to the rest of the body.
Neurons
receive information and transmit it to other cells.
Processes
axon and dendrites.
Dendrites
branching fibers that get narrower near their ends.
Dendritic spines
increase surface are available for synapses.
Nucleus
structure that contains the chromosomes.
Mitochondria
- powerhouse of cell
- creates more than 90% of cellular activity.
- produces ATP (main energy of cell).
overactive mitochondria vs under-active
overactive = burn fuel rapidly, overheat.
under-active = predisposed to depression.
Ribosomes
sites within a cell that synthesize new protein molecules.
What do proteins do?
- act as enzymes (catalyses chemical reactions).
- cell signalling and binding.
endoplasmic reticulum
a network of thin tubes that trans- port newly synthesized proteins to other locations.
Types of neurons
- ) motor
- ) sensory
- ) pyramidal
Motor neuron
- soma in the spinal cord.
- receives excitation through its dendrites and conducts impulses along its axon to a muscle.
Sensory neuron
- soma located in PNS.
- detects changes in the external and internal environment and sends info to CNS.
Interneurons
- located in CNS within neuronal structures.
- connect somatic and motor information.
Cell body/soma
contains the nucleus, ribosomes, and mitochondria.
Axon
conveys an impulse toward other neurons, an organ, or a muscle.
Myelin sheath
insulating material that covers axons.
afferent axons
brings information into a structure.
ex: sensory neurons
efferent axons
carries information away from a structure.
ex: motor neurons.
Interneuron
cell with dendrites and axon entirely contained within a single structure.