task 2 - neurons Flashcards
(39 cards)
soma
the cell body, contains the nucleus and machinery for the cell to carry out processes
dendrites
the antennas, receive messages from other neurons that are transmitted across the synapse
synapse
a small space between terminal buttons of the sending cell and a portion of the somatic or dendritic membrane of the receiving cell
axon
long thin tube, carries information from the cell body to the terminal buttons (electrical outlet to an appliance!!!!!)
terminal buttons
at the end of axons, when action potential is traveling down the axon and reaches them, it secretes a neurotransmitter
nodes of ranvier
the gaps between sections of myelin in the axon
anterograde axoplasmic transport
movement from the cell body to the terminal buttons (done by kinesin)
retrograde exoplasmic transport
movement from the terminal buttons to the cell body (done by dynein)
sensory neurons
in PNS they gather information in the form of light, sound waves, odors, tastes, contact with objects
motor neurons
controls muscle contraction, creating motor functions
interneurons
; in between the sensory and motor neurons, lie entirely within the CNS
local interneurons
form circuits w/ nearby neurons and analyze (okay overthinker!!!!)
relay interneurons
connect circuits of local interneurons in one region of the brain with other regions of the brain (relay racer!!!!! but for the brain)
unipolar neuron
only 1 process extending from it’s cell body, the process branches in 2 directions- one of the ends is an input zone and the other an output zone (transmit touch information from the body into the spinal cord)
bipolar neuron
dendrite at the one end of the cell and 1 axon on the other end (common for sensory systems)
multipolar neuron
many sets of dendrites and a single axon (99% of neurons) integrate neural activity within a single brain structure
nerves
bundles of neurons wrapped in membrane
membrane potential
any change in potential energy in the membrane (positive or negative)
resting potential
the membrane staying at -70 mV when resting and not communicating with other neurons
how does resting potential work?
diffusion and electrostatic pressure
hyperpolarization
the inside of an axon becomes more negative from the resting potential relative to the outside
- when the axon becomes more positive than the outside the neuron is depolarized (more likely to send an electrical message)
threshold for excitation
for depolarization to trigger the main electrical event in an axon- the action potential
action potential
a burst of rapid depolarization to hyperpolarization, this begins at the point where the soma meets the axon and travels down to the end of the terminal buttons, triggering the terminal buttons to release neurotransmitters into the synapse
absolute refractory period
the period after the initiation of an action potential, during which it is impossible to elicit a second one (due to blockage of the Na+ channels)