Brain and Neuron Anatomy & Function Flashcards
What is the purpose of ion channels?
plays a role in establishing a resting potential
How do ion channels differ from Ion Pumps?
Ion channels are passive and the movement of ions is downhill ( along the concentration gradient, high to low)
Ion pumps are active and the movement of ions is uphill (against the concentration gradient, low to high)
What is the limbic system responsible for?
The limbic system is a group of interconnected brain regions involved in emotion, motivation, and memory processing.
What is the limbic system and where is it located?
The limbic system is a set of primitive brain structures located on top of the brainstem and buried under the cortex
What is the Prefrontal Cortex is responsible for?
The prefrontal cortex is responsible for executive functions such as decision-making, planning, and working memory.
What are the main structures in a neuron?
A neuron has three main parts: Dendrites, cell body ( soma) and axons.
What are dendrites ? What is their main purpose?
Dendrites are branching structures that extend away from the cell body to receive messages from other neurons
What is an axon?
An axon is a long, tail-like structure that transfer signals away from the cell body towards other neurons.
What is the cell body (soma)?
The cell body is where the nucleus lies, where the neuron’s DNA is housed, and where proteins are made to be transported throughout the axon and dendrites.
How can a neuron be compared to a tree?
A useful analogy for understanding neuronal anatomy is a tree. With dendrites being the tree branches, the cell body being the trunk and the axon the roots of the tree.
