Chapter 2

Question 1

Neurons

Answer 1

cells that are highly specialized to receive and transmit information from one part of the body to another

Question 2

Sensory Neurons

Answer 2

also called afferent neurons, convey information about the environment, such as light or sound, from specialized receptor cells in the sense organs to the brain

Question 3

Motor Neurons

Answer 3

also called efferent neurons, communicate information to the muscles and glands of the body.

Question 4

Interneurons

Answer 4

they communicate information between neurons

Question 5

Mirror Neurons

Answer 5

are not structurally different from other motor neurons, they are a distinct type of motor neuron that becomes activated both when individuals perform a motor act and why they obsers the same act by somebody else

Question 6

Cell body

Answer 6

also called the soma, contains structures that manufacture proteins and process nutrients, providing energy the neuron needs to function

Question 7

Dendrites

Answer 7

short branching fibers that extend from the cell bodies of most neurons that look like branches from a tree

Question 8

Axon

Answer 8

a single elongated tube that extends from the cell body in most, though not all, neurons

Question 9

Glial Cells

Question 10

Myelin sheath

Answer 10

a white fatty covering that is wrapped around the axons of some, but not all neurons

Question 11

Action Potential

Answer 11

messages are gathered by the dendrites and cell body and then transmitted along the axon in the form of a brief electrical impulse

Question 12

Stimulus threshold

Answer 12

each neuron requires a minimum level of stimulation from other neurons or sensory receptors to activate it

Question 13

Resting potential

Answer 13

large concentration of negative ions inside the neuron= the electrical charge is about -70 millivolts (thousandths of a volt)=neurons resting potential

Question 14

Synapse

Answer 14

the point of communication to other cells, most notably other neurons.

Question 15

Synaptic gap

Answer 15

the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons are separated by a tiny fluid-filled space called the synaptic gap which is only 20-40 nanometers

Question 16

Axon terminals

Answer 16

at the end of the axon there are several small branches

Question 17

Synaptic vesicles

Answer 17

floating in the interior fluid of the axon terminals are tiny sacs

Question 18

Neurotransmitters

Answer 18

the synaptic vesicles hold special chemical messengers manufactured by the neuron

Question 19

Synaptic transmission

Answer 19

the process of transmitting information at the synapse

Question 20

Reputake

Answer 20

neuron detaches from the receptor and gets reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron so they can be recycled and used again

Question 21

Acetylcholine

Answer 21

the first neurotransmitter found in all motor neurons, it insulates muscles to contract, including the heart and stomach muscles

Question 22

Dopamine

Answer 22

is involved in movement, attention, learning, and pleasurable or rewarding sensations

Question 23

Serotonin

Answer 23

is involved in sleep, sensory perceptions, moods, and emotional states, including depression

Question 24

Norepinephrine

Answer 24

is implicated in the activation of neurons throughout the brain and helps the body gear up in the face of danger or threat

Question 25

Glutamate and gamma-amniobutyric acid

Answer 25

in a delicate balancing act this conveys excitatory messages and GABA communicates inhibitory messages. too much GABA impairs learning, motivation, and movement but too little can lead to seizures

Question 26

Endorphines

Answer 26

another important class of neurotransmitter. chemically similar to morphine, heroin, and other opiod drugs, endorphins are hundreds of times more potent and are released in response to stress, trauma, and pain.

Question 27

Agonist

Answer 27

is a drug or other chemical that binds to a receptor and facilitates synaptic transmission

Question 28

Antagonist

Answer 28

a drug acts as an antagonist by blocking the effect of neurotransmitters