CH 1.1 Key Terms Flashcards
Active Transport
A protein-mediated process that expends energy to enable a molecule to cross a membrane
Afferent Axon
Axon that brings information into a structure
Astrocytes
Star-shapes glia that synchronizes the activity of the axons
Axon
Thin Fiber of constant diameter; The neuron’s information sender
Blood-Brain Barrier
Mechanism that excludes most chemicals from the brain
Cell Body, or Soma
Structure containing the nucleus, ribosomes and mitochondria
Dendrites
Branching fibers from a neuron that receive information from other neurons
Dendritic Spines
Short outgrowths that increase the surface area available for synapses
Efferent Axon
Neuron that carries information away from the structure
Endoplasmic Reticulum
Network of thin tubes that transport newly synthesized proteins to other locations
Glia
Type of cell in the nervous system that, in contrast to neurons, does not conduct impulses over long distances
Glucose
A simple sugar
Interneuron
Neuron whose axons and dendrites are all confined within a given structure
Intrinsic neuron
Neuron whose axons and dendrites are all confined within a given structure
Membrane
Structure that separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment
Microglia
Cell that removes waste material and other microorganisms from the nervous system
Mitochondrion
Structure that performs metabolic activities
Motor Neuron
Neuron that relieves excitation from other neurons and conducts impulses to a muscle
Myelin Sheath
Insulating material that covers vertebrate axon
Neurons
Cell that receive information and transmit it to other cells
Nodes of Ranvier
Interruptions in the myelin sheath of vertebrate axons
Nucleus
Structure that contains the chromosomes
Oligodendrocytes
Glia cells that build myelin sheaths
Presynaptic Terminal
(End bulb or bouton) point where an axon releases chemicals
