Chapter 3 Flashcards
(37 cards)
What must happen to propagate an action potential?
membrane potential must exceed threshold of excitation
What are the three main parts of the neuron?
- cell body, soma
- dendrites
- axon
Where are cell bodies of most neurons located?
brain or spinal cord to stay protected, some are in the ganglia of the PNS
What do dendrites do?
transmit impulses toward the cell body
-some impulses are received directly by the cell body or axon hillock
What do axons do?
transmit impulses away from the cell body (axon hillock-origin of action potentials)
Long axons are termed _____ _____.
nerve fibers
The end of the axon branches into many _____ _____.
terminal ends
Each terminal end has a ____ _____.
synaptic knob
What do synaptic knobs contain?
vesicles that contain chemical neurotransmitters
What is myelin sheath?
made of lipids, wrap around axons, increases conduction
In PNS, myelin sheath is composed of _____ _____.
Schwann cells
T/F
Myelin is continuous.
False
Nodes of Ranvier?
myelin sheath gaps, voltage gated Na+ channels are concentrated here
Saltatory conduction?
myelinated axons propagate impulses faster because it jumps from one node of ranvier to another
3 functions of myelin sheath?
- protect axon
- insulate axon from other neurons
- increase rate of conduction of impulse
Myelinated neurons transmit impulses _____ than unmyelinated.
faster
Small neurons transmit impulses _______ than larger ones.
slower
-larger= less resistance
What does the size of the neuron refer to?
diameter or cross sectional area of axon
What is conduction of a nerve impulse along the axon called?
propagation of an action potential
Depolarization?
membrane potential becomes less negative
Repolarization?
establishes the normal resting membrane potential
Neurons that innervate skeletal muscle form _______ junctions.
neuromuscular
Neurons that innervate smooth muscle cardiac muscle form ______ junctions.
neuroeffector
How many kinds of neurotransmitters can one neuron release?
one