Medical Related Information Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is a Neuron?
The functional unit of the nervous system.
What is the Cell Body (Soma)?
Contains the nucleus and organelles; integrates incoming signals.
What are Dendrites?
Branch-like extensions that receive signals from other neurons.
What is an Axon?
Long, slender projection that carries electrical impulses away from the cell body.
What is an Axon Terminal (Synaptic Terminal)?
Located at the end of the axon.
What is the function of the Axon Terminal?
Releases neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft to transmit signals to the next cell (neuron, muscle, or gland).
What is the Myelin Sheath?
Fatty insulation layer around the axon.
What is the function of the Myelin Sheath?
Speeds up the transmission of electrical impulses.
What forms the Myelin Sheath in the PNS?
Schwann cells.
What forms the Myelin Sheath in the CNS?
Oligodendrocytes.
What are the Nodes of Ranvier?
Gaps between myelin sheath segments.
What is the function of the Nodes of Ranvier?
Facilitate saltatory conduction, where impulses jump from node to node, increasing speed.
What is the Endoneurium?
Delicate connective tissue surrounding each individual axon (and its myelin sheath) within a nerve.
What is a Fascicle?
A bundle of axons grouped together within the nerve.
What surrounds a Fascicle?
Surrounded by the perineurium (a protective sheath).
What is the Epineurium?
Outermost layer of connective tissue that encases multiple fascicles, forming the entire nerve.
