Chapter 2 Flashcards
Nervous System
A network of specialized cells that carry information to and from parts of the body.
Neuroscience
A branch of the life sciences that deals with the structure and functioning of the brain and the neurons, nerves, and nervous tissue that form the nervous system.
Relating to behavior and mental process.
Neurons
Specialized cell of the nervous system that receives and sends messages within that system.
Types: Sensory (afferent), motor (efferent)
Parts: dendrites, soma, and axon
Dendrites
“tree-like” or “branch” structure that are attached to the cell body (soma) and receives messages.
Soma
The part of the cell that contains the nucleus and keeps the entire cell alive and functioning. Also called the cell body.
Axon
A fiber attached to the soma, and its job is to carry messages out to other cells.
Glial Cells
Grey fatty cells;The second type of primary cells with a variety of functions including:
- Provide support
- Produce myelin
- Serving as a structure on which the neurons develop and work and that hold the neurons in place
- Getting nutrients to the neurons
- Cleaning up the remains of neurons that have died
- Communicating with neurons and other glial cells
- Proving insulation for neurons
Sensory (afferent) Neurons
Sense organs to CNS.
Motor (efferent) Neurons
CNS to body- muscles and glands.
Ions
Charged particles located inside(-) and outside(+) of a cell (most are positively charged due to diffusion).
Diffusion
The process of ions moving from areas of high concentration to ares of low concentration, and electrostatic pressure, the relative electrical charges when the ions are at rest.
Resting Potential
When the cell is resting, the electrical potential is at a state of rest.
Sodium atoms cannot enter at this time because the particular channels for big sodium ions aren’t open yet.
Action Potential
Electrical charge reversal where the electrical potential is now in action and each action potential sequence takes about one thousandth of a second (neural message travels very fast).
Now cell is positive on inside and negative on outside.
Neural impulse where sodium ion enter the cell change.
All-or-none
When a neuron fires at full strength or not at all.
There is no “in-between” or “partial” firing.
Excitatory Neurotransmitter
Tells next cell to FIRE.
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
Tells next cell to STOP.
Neurotransmitters
Inside the synaptic vesicles are chemicals suspended in fluid, which are molecules of substances.
They are inside a neuron and they are going to transmit a message.
Synapse (synaptic gap)
Space between the axon terminal and the dendrite that allow sodium ions to rush in.
Receptor Sites
.
Excitatory synapses
.
Inhibitory synapses
.
Antagonist
A chemical substance that blocks or reduces the effects of a neurotransmitter.
Agonists
A chemical substance that mimics or enhances the effects of a neurotransmitter.
Acetycholine
Muscle action, learning, & memory
Excitatory or inhibitory; involved in arousal, attention, memory, and controls muscle contractions