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Physiology Fall 2022 > chapter 12 key terms > Flashcards

chapter 12 key terms Flashcards

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1
Q

absolute refractory period

A

time during an action period when another action potential cannot be generated because the voltage-gated Na+ channel is activated

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2
Q

action potential

A

change in voltage of a cell membrane in response to a stimulus that results in transmission of an electrical signal; unique to neurons and muscle fibers

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3
Q

activation gate

A

part of the voltage-gated Na+ channel that opens when the membrane voltage reaches threshold

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4
Q

astrocyte

A

glial cell type of the CNS that provides support for neurons and maintains the blood-brain barrier

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5
Q

autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

functional division of the nervous system that is responsible for homeostatic reflexes that coordinate control of cardiac and smooth muscle, as well as glandular tissue

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6
Q

axon

A

single process of the neuron that carries an electrical signal (action potential) away from the cell body toward a target cell

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7
Q

axon hillock

A

tapering of the neuron cell body that gives rise to the axon

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8
Q

axon segment

A

single stretch of the axon insulated by myelin and bounded by nodes of Ranvier at either end (except for the first, which is after the initial segment, and the last, which is followed by the axon terminal)

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9
Q

axon terminal

A

end of the axon, where there are usually several branches extending toward the target cell

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10
Q

axoplasm

A

cytoplasm of an axon, which is different in composition than the cytoplasm of the neuronal cell body

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11
Q

biogenic amine

A

class of neurotransmitters that are enzymatically derived from amino acids but no longer contain a carboxyl group

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12
Q

bipolar

A

shape of a neuron with two processes extending from the neuron cell body– the axon and one dendrite

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13
Q

blood-brain barrier

A

physiological barrier between the circulatory system and the central nervous system that establishes a privileged blood supply, restricting the flow of substances into the CNS

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14
Q

brain

A

the large organ of the central nervous system composed of the white and gray matter, contained within the cranium continuous with the spinal cord

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15
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

anatomical division of the nervous system located within the cranial and vertebral cavities, namely the brain and spinal cord

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16
Q

cerebral cortex

A

outermost layer of gray matter in the brain, where conscious perception takes place

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17
Q

cerebrospinal fluid

A

circulatory medium within the CNS that is produced by ependymal cells in the choroid plexus filtering the blood

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18
Q

chemical synapse

A

connection between two neurons, or between a neuron and its target, where a neurotransmitter diffuses across a very short distance

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19
Q

cholinergic system

A

neurotransmitter system of acetylcholine, which includes its receptors and the enzyme acetylcholinesterase

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20
Q

choroid plexus

A

specialized structure containing ependymal cells that line blood capillaries and filter blood to produce CSF in the four ventricles of the brain

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21
Q

continuous conduction

A

slow propagation of an action potential along an unmyelinated axon owing to voltage-gated Na+ channels located along the entire length of the cell membrane

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22
Q

dendrite

A

one of many branchlike processes that extends from the neuron cell body and functions as a contact for incoming signals (synapses) from other neurons or sensory cells

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23
Q

depolarization

A

change in a cell membrane potential from rest toward zero

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24
Q

effector protein

A

enzyme that catalyzes the generation of a new molecule, which acts as the intracellular mediator of the signal that binds to the receptor

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25
electrical synapse
connection between two neurons, or any two electrically active cells, where ions flow directly through channels spanning their adjacent cell membranes
26
electrochemical exclusion
principle of selectively allowing ions through a channel on the basis of their charge
27
enteric nervous system (ENS)
neural tissue associated with the digestive system that is responsible for nervous control through autonomic connections
28
ependymal cell
glial cell type in the CNS responsible for producing cerebrospinal fluid
29
excitable membrane
cell membrane that regulates the movement of ions so that an electrical signal can be generated
30
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
graded potential in the postsynaptic membrane that is the result of depolarization and makes an action potential more likely to occur
31
G protein
guanosine triphosphate (GTP) hydrolase that physically moves from the receptor protein to the effector protein to activate the latter`
32
ganglion
localized collection of neuron cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
33
gated
property of a channel that determines how it opens under specific conditions, such as voltage change or physical deformation
34
generator potential
graded potential from dendrites of a unipolar cell which generated the action potential in the initial segment of that cell's axon
35
glial cell
one of the various types of neural tissue cells responsible for maintenance of the tissue, and largely responsible for supporting neurons
36
graded potential
change in the membrane potential that varies in size, depending on the size of the stimulus that elicits it
37
gray matter
regions of the nervous system containing cell bodies of neurons with few or no myelinated axons; actually may be more pink or tan in color, but called gray in contrast to white matter
38
inactivation gate
part of a voltage-gated Na+ channel that closes when the membrane potential reaches +30mV
39
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
graded potential in the postsynaptic membrane that is the result of hyperpolarization and makes an action potential less likely to occur
40
initial segment
first part of the axon as it emerges from the axon hillock, where the electrical signals known as action potentials are generated
41
integration
nervous system function that combines sensory perceptions and higher cognitive functions (memories, learning, emotion, etc) to produce a response
42
ionotropic receptor
neurotransmitter receptor that acts as an ion channel gate, and opens by the binding of the neurotransmitter
43
leakage channel
ion channel that opens randomly and is not gated to a specific event, also known as a non-gated channel
44
ligand-gated channel
another name for an ionotropic receptor for which a neurotransmitter is the ligand
45
lower motor neuron
second neuron in the motor command pathway that is directly connected to the skeletal muscle
46
mechanically gated channel
ion channel that opens when a physical event directly affects the structure of the protein
47
membrane potential
distribution of charge across the cell membrane, based on the charge of ions
48
metabotropic receptor
neurotransmitter receptor that involves a complex of proteins that cause metabolic changes in a cell
49
microglia
glial cell type in the CNS that serves as the resident component of the immune system
50
multipolar
shape of a neuron that has multiple processes- the axon and two or more dendrites
51
muscarinic receptor
type of acetylcholine receptor protein that is characterized by also binding to muscarine and is a metabotropic receptor
52
myelin
lipid-rich insulating substance surrounding the axons of many neurons, allowing for faster transmission of electrical signals
53
myelin sheath
lipid-rich layer of insulation that surrounds an axon, formed by oligodendrocytes in the CNS and Schwann cells in the PNS; facilitates the transmission of electrical signals
54
nerve
cord-like bundle of axons located in the peripheral nervous system that transmits sensory input and response output to and from the CNS
55
neuron
neural tissue cell that is primarily responsible for generating and propogating electrical signals into, within, and out of the nervous system
56
neuropeptide
neurotransmitter type that includes protein molecules and shorter chains of amino acids
57
neurotransmitter
chemical signal that is released from the synaptic end bulb of a neuron to cause a change in the target cell
58
nicotinic receptor
type of acetylcholine receptor protein that is characterized by also binding to nicotine and is an ionotropic receptor
59
node of Ranvier
gap between two myelinated regions of an axon, allowing for strengthening. of the electrical signal as it propagates down the axon
60
nonspecific channel
channel that is not specific to one ion over another, such as a nonspecific cation channel that allows any positively charged ion across the membrane
61
nucleus
in the nervous system, a localized collection of neuron cell bodies that are functionally related; a "center" of neuronal function
62
oligodendrocyte
glial cell type in the CNS that provides the myelin insulation for axons in tracts
63
peripheral nervous system PNS
anatomical division of the nervous system that is largely outside the cranial and vertebral cavities, namely all parts except the brain and spinal cord
64
postsynaptic potential
graded potential in the postsynaptic membrane caused by the binding of neurotransmitter to protein receptors
65
precentral gyrus of the frontal cortex
region of the cerebral cortex responsible for generating motor commands, where the upper motor neuron cell body is located
66
process
in cells, an extension of a cell body; in the case of neurons, this includes the axon and dendrites
67
propagation
movement of an action potential along the length of an axon
68
receptor potential
graded potential in a specialized sensory cell that directly causes the release of neurotransmitter without an intervening action potential
69
refractory period
time after the initiation of an action potential when another action potential cannot be generated
70
relative refractory period
time during the refractory period when a new action potential can only be initiated by a stronger stimulus than the current action potential because voltage-gated K+ channels are not closed
71
repolarization
return of the membrane potential to its normally negative voltage at the end of the action potential
72
resistance
property of an axon that related to the ability of particles to diffuse through the cytoplasm; this is inversely proportional to the fiber diameter
73
response
nervous system function that causes a target tissue (muscle or gland) to produce an event as a consequence to stimuli
74
resting membrane potential
the different in voltage measured across a cell membrane under steady-state conditions, typically -70mV
75
saltatory conduction
quick propagation of the action potential along a myelinated axon owing to voltage-gated Na+ channels being present only at the nodes of Ranvier
76
satellite cell
glial cell type in the PNS that provides the myelin insulation for axons in nerves
77
sensations
nervous system function that receives information from the environment and translates it into the electrical signals of nervous tissue
78
size exclusion
principle of selectively allowing ions through a channel on the basis of their relative size
79
soma
in neurons, that portion of the cell that contains the nucleus; the cell body, as opposed to the cell processes (axons and dendrites)
80
somatic nervous system
functional division of the nervous system that is concerned with conscious perception, voluntary movement, and skeletal muscle reflexes
81
spatial summation
combination of graded potentials across the neuronal cell membrane caused by signals from separate presynaptic elements that add up to initiate an action potential
82
spatial summation
combination of graded potentials across the neuronal cell membrane caused by signals from separate presynaptic elements that add up to initiate an action potential
83
spinal cord
organ of the CNS found within the vertebral cavity and connected with the periphery through spinal nerves; mediates reflex behaviors
84
stimulusq
an event in the external or internal environment that registers as activity in a sensory neuron
85
summate
to add together, as in the cumulative change in postsynaptic potentials toward reaching threshold in the membrane, either across a span of the membrane or over a certain amount of time
86
synapse
narrow junction across which a chemical signal passes from neuron to the next, initiating a new electrical signal in the target cell
87
synaptic cleft
small gap between cells in a chemical synapse where neurotransmitter diffuses from the presynaptic element to the postsynaptic element
88
synaptic end bulb
swelling at the end of an axon where neurotransmitter molecules are released onto a target cell across a synapse
89
temporal summation
combination of graded potentials at the same location on a neuron resulting in a strong signal from one input
90
thalamus
region of the central NS that acts as a relay for sensory pathways
91
thermoreceptor
type of sensory receptor capable of transduciing temperature stimuli into neural action potentials
92
thereshold
membrane voltage at which an action potential is initiated
93
tract
bundle of axons in the CNS having the same function and point of origin
94
unipolar
shape of a neuron which has only one process that includes both the axon and dendrite
95
upper motor neuron
first neuron in the motor command pathway with its cell body in the cerebral cortex that synapses on the lower motor neuron in the spinal cord
96
ventricle
central cavity within the brain where CSF is produced and circulated
97
voltage gated channel
ion channel that opens because of a change in the charge distributed across the membrane where it is located
98
white matter
regions of the nervous system containing mostly myelinated axons, making the tissue appear white because of the high lipid content of myelin

Physiology Fall 2022 (5 decks)

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