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3313 > Ch 3 Definitions: Neurophysiology: The Structure & Function of the Cells of the Nervous System > Flashcards

Ch 3 Definitions: Neurophysiology: The Structure & Function of the Cells of the Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

gliay

A

cells in the nervous system
that support
the activities of neurons

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2
Q

neuron

A

a cell of the nervous system
that is specialized for
information processing and communication

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3
Q

macroglia

A

large glial cells,
including
astrocytes, ependymal cells, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells

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4
Q

microglia

A

tiny, mobile glial cells
that migrate to areas of damage
and digest debris

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5
Q

astrocyte

A

a large, star-shaped glial cell of the CNS
responsible for structural support, isolation of synapse, control of the extracellular chemical environment at the synapse, and possibly communication

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6
Q

ependymal cells

A

glial cells
lining the ventricles and central canal
of the spinal cord

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7
Q

oligodendrocyte

A

a glial cell
that forms the myelin
on CNS axons

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8
Q

Schwann cell

A

a glial cell
that forms the myelin
on axons in the PNS

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9
Q

synapse

A

the junction
between two neurons
at which information is transferred from one to another

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10
Q

blood-brain barrier

A

an impediment to the transfer of molecules
from the circulation into the brain
formed by the astrocytes

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11
Q

exosome

A

tiny vesicle that removes debris

and transports material

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12
Q

organelle

A

a small structure within the cell

that carries out a specific function

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13
Q

cell body/soma

A

the main mass of a neuron,

containing the nucleus and many organelles

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14
Q

axon

A

the branch of a neuron
usually responsible for
carrying signals to other neurons

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15
Q

dendrite

A

the branch of a neuron
that generally receives information
from other neurons

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16
Q

intracellular fluid

A

the fluid inside the cell;

AKA cytoplasm

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17
Q

extracellular fluid

A

the fluid surrounding the cell;

AKA interstitial fluid

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18
Q

permeability

A

a property of a substance
that determines the extent to which
other substances may pass through it

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19
Q

ion channel

A

a protein structure
embedded in a cell membrane
that allows ions to pass
without the use of additional energy

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20
Q

ion pump

A

a protein structure
embedded in a cell membrane
that uses energy
to move ions across the membrane

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21
Q

ions

A

an electrically charged particle

in solution

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22
Q

voltage-dependent channel

A

an ion channel that opens or closes
in response to
the local electrical environment

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23
Q

ligand-gated channel

A

an ion channel
in the neural membrane
that responds to chemical messengers

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24
Q

sodium-potassium pump

A

an ion pump
that uses energy
to transfer 3 Na+ TO the extracellular fluid
for every 2 K+ ions retrieved FROM the extracellular fluid

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25
calcium pump
a protein structure embedded in the neural membrane that uses energy to move Ca+ out of the cell
26
cytoskeleton
a network of filaments | that provides the internal structure of a neuron
27
microtubule
the largest type of fiber in the cell cytoskeleton responsible for transport of neurochemicals and other products to and from the cell body
28
anterograde transport
movement of materials from the cell body of a neuron to the axon terminal along the microtubules
29
retrograde transport
movement of material from the axon terminal back to the cell body via the cell's system of microtubules
30
neurofilament
a neural fiber found in the cell cytoskeleton | responsible for structural support
31
microfilament
the smallest fiber found in the cell cytoskeleton that may participate in the changing of the length and shape of axons and dendrites
32
nucleus
substructure within cell | contains cell's DNA
33
nucleolus
substructure within nucleus | where ribosomes are produced
34
ribosome
organelle in cell body | involved with protein synthesis
35
endoplasmic reticulum
organelle in cell body | participates in protein synthesis
36
Golgi apparatus
organelle in cell body | packages proteins in vesicles
37
mitochondria
organelles that provide energy to the cell by transforming pyruvic acid and oxygen into molecules of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
38
neurochemical
a small organic molecule | that participates in neural activity
39
synaptic gap
the tiny fluid-filled space | between neurons at a synapse
40
dendritic spine
a knob on the dendrite that provides additional membrane area for the formation of synapses with other neurons
41
axon hillock
the cone-shaped segment of axon located at the junction of the axon and cell body that is specialized for the generation of axon potentials
42
action potential
the nerve impulse arising in an axon
43
initial segment
the portion of axon between the axon hillock and the first segment of myelin
44
myelin
the fatty insulating material covering some axons | that boosts the speed and efficiency of electrical signaling
45
local circuit neuron
a neuron that communicates | with neurons in its immediate vicinity
46
projection neuron
a neuron with a very long axon that communicates with neurons in distant areas of the nervous system
47
collateral
one of the branches near the end of the axon | closest to its targets
48
axon terminal
the swelling at the tip of an axon collateral | specialized for the release of neurochemicals
49
axonal varicosity
a swelling in an unmyelinated segment of axon containing mitochondria and, in some cases, synaptic vesicles
50
synaptic vesicles
a small structure in the axon terminal | that contains neurochemicals
51
node of Ranvier
the uncovered section of axon membrane | between 2 adjacent segments of myelin
52
unipolar neuron
a neuron with 1 branch that extends a short distance from the cell body & then splits into 2 branches
53
bipolar neuron
a neuron with 2 branches extending from the cell body, 1 axon & 1 dendrite
54
multipolar neuron
a neuron that has multiple branches extending from the cell body, usually 1 axon & numerous dendrites
55
sensory neuron
a specialized neuron that translates incoming sensory information into electrical signals
56
motor neuron
a specialized neuron that communicates with muscles & glands
57
interneuron
a neuron that serves as a bridge between sensory & motor neurons
58
resting potential
the measurement of the electrical charge across the neural membrane with the cell is not processing information
59
depolarization
a change in a membrane potential in a more positive direction
60
threshold
the level of depolarization at which an action potential is initiated
61
hyperpolarization
a change in membrane potential in a more negative direction
62
absolute refractory period
the period in which an action potential will not occur in a particular location of an axon regardless of input
63
relative refractory period
the period following an action potential in which larger than normal input will produce a second action potential but in which normal input will be insufficient
64
saltatory conduction
the movement of an action potential from node of Ranvier to node of Ranvier, down the length of the myelinated axon
65
gap junction
a type of synapse in which a neuron directly affects an adjacent neuron through the movement of ions one cell to the other
66
chemical synapse
a type of synapse in which messages are transmitted from one neuron to another by neurochemicals
67
excitation
a neural message that increases the likelihood that a receiving cell will produce an action potential
68
inhibition
a neural message that decreases the likelihood that a receiving cell will produce an action potential
69
wiring transmission
process in which chemicals diffuse from one cell to impact an adjacent cell or cells through private, highly localized channels
70
volume transmission
process in which neurochemicals diffuse through the extracellular fluid & CSF to influence cells located some distance away from the releasing cell
71
exocytosis
the process in which vesicles fuse with the membrane of the axon terminal & release neurochemicals into the synaptic gap
72
autoreceptor
receptor site located on the presynaptic neuron that provides information about the cell’s own activity levels
73
receptors
a special protein structure embedded in a neural membrane that responds to chemical messengers
74
recognition molecules
a molecule within a receptor that binds to specific neurochemicals
75
ionotropic receptor
a receptor protein in the postsynaptic membrane in which the recognition site is located on the same structure as the ion channel
76
metabotropic receptor
a protein structure embedded in the postsynaptic membrane containing a recognition site & a G protein - neurochemicals binding to these receptors do not directly open ion channels
77
G protein
a protein found on the intracellular side of a metabotropic receptor that separates in response to the binding of a neurochemical & travels to adjacent areas of the cell to affect ion channels or second messengers
78
second messenger
a chemical within the postsynaptic neuron that is indirectly activated by synaptic activity & interacts with intracellular enzymes or receptors
79
reuptake
a process for ending the action of neurochemicals in the synaptic gap in which the presynaptic membrane recaptures the molecules of neurochemical
80
transporter
a receptor in the presynaptic membrane that recaptures released molecules of neurochemical in the process of reuptake
81
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
a small depolarization produced in the postsynaptic cell as a result of input from the presynaptic cell
82
graded potentials
an electrical signal that can vary in size & shape
83
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
a small hyperpolarization produced in the postsynaptic cell as a result of input from the presynaptic cell
84
neural integration
the determination of whether to fire an action potential, based on the summation of inputs to a neuron
85
spatial summation
neural integration in which the combined inputs from many synapses converge on the axon hillock, where an action potential will result if threshold is reached
86
temporal summation
neural integration in which excitation from one active synapse is sufficient to initiate the formation of an action potential
87
axo-axonic synapse
a synapse in which both the presynaptic & postsynaptic elements are axons
88
presynaptic facilitation
at a synapse between 2 axons, the increase of neurochemical release by the postsynaptic axon as a result of input from the presynaptic axon
89
presynaptic inhibition
at a synapse between 2 axons, the decrease of neurochemical release by the postsynaptic axon as a result of input from the presynaptic axon

3313 (16 decks)

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