Chapter 1: Nerve Cells and Nerve Impulses (Module 1.1)

Question 1

these cells receive information and transmit it to other
cells

Answer 1

neurons

Question 2

what are the two kinds of cells that the nervous system consists of?

Answer 2

neurons and glia

Question 3

a structure that separates
the inside of the cell from the outside environment

Answer 3

plasma membrane/ membrane

Question 4

the structure that contains the chromosomes.

Answer 4

nucleus

Question 5

is the structure that
performs metabolic activities, providing the energy that the cell uses for all activities

Answer 5

mitochondria/ mitochondrion

Question 6

are the sites within a cell that synthesize new
protein molecules

Answer 6

ribosomes

Question 7

a network of thin tubes that transport newly synthesized proteins to other locations.

Answer 7

endoplasmic reticulum

Question 8

this neuron receives excitation through its dendrites and conducts impulses along its axon to a muscle

Answer 8

motor neuron

Question 9

is specialized at one end to be highly sensitive to a particular type
of stimulation, such as light, sound, or touch.

Answer 9

sensory neuron

Question 10

are branching fibers that get narrower near their end

Answer 10

dendrites

Question 11

short outgrowths that increase the surface area available for synapses

Answer 11

dendritic spines

Question 12

what is a dendrite’s surface lined with?

Answer 12

specialized synaptic receptors which allow a dendrite to receive information from other neurons

Question 13

this contains the nucleus, ribosomes, and mitochondria.

Answer 13

cell body/soma

Question 14

is a thin fiber of constant diameter.

conveys an impulse toward other neurons, an organ, or a muscle.

Answer 14

axon

Question 15

what insulating material covers the vertebrate axons?

Answer 15

myelin sheath

Question 16

are gaps in the myelin sheath coating on the neural axon.

Answer 16

nodes of Ranvier

Question 17

the swelling on the end of each branch

also known as an end bulb

at this point, the axon releases chemicals that cross through the
junction between that neuron and another cell.

Answer 17

presynaptic terminal

Question 18

this type of axon brings information away from a structure

Answer 18

afferent axon

Question 19

this type of axon carries information away from a structure

Answer 19

efferent axon

Question 20

What are the widely branching structures of a neuron called?

And what is the long, thin structure that carries information
to another cell called?

Answer 20

dendrites, axons

Question 21

what is the structure that contains a cell’s dendrites and axon called?

Answer 21

interneuron/ intrinsic neuron

Question 22

this type of glia act as part of the immune system, removing viruses and fungi from the brain

Answer 22

microglia

Question 23

this type of glia wrap around the synapses of functionally related
axons and shields it from chemicals circulating in the surround

also helps synchronize
closely related neurons, enabling their axons to send messages in waves

Answer 23

astrocytes

Question 24

these two types of glia build the myelin sheaths that surround and
insulate certain vertebrate axons

Answer 24

oligodendrocytes for the brain and spinal

Schwann cells in the periphery of the body

Question 25

this type of glia guide the migration of neurons and
their axons and dendrites during embryonic development.

Answer 25

radial glia

Question 26

What are the four major structures that compose a neuron?

Answer 26

Dendrites,
soma (cell body), axon, and presynaptic terminals

Question 27

the mechanism that excludes most chemicals from the vertebrate brain

Answer 27

blood-brain barrier

Question 28

what type of molecules can easily pass through the blood-brain barrier?

Answer 28

small, uncharged
molecules such as oxygen and carbon dioxide

molecules that dissolve in the
fats of the membrane cross easily

Question 29

what is active transport?

Answer 29

a protein-mediated process that expends energy to pump chemicals from the blood into the brain

Question 30

Identify one major advantage and one disadvantage of having a blood–brain barrier.

Answer 30

The blood–brain barrier keeps out viruses (an advantage)

and also keeps out most nutrients (a disadvantage)

Question 31

Which chemicals cross the blood–brain barrier passively?

Answer 31

small unchanged molecules such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water

and chemicals that easily dissolve in the fats of the membrane

Question 32

Which chemicals cross the blood–brain barrier by active transport?

Answer 32

Glucose, amino acids, purines, choline, certain vitamins, and iron.

Question 33

Why do neurons depend so heavily on glucose?

Answer 33

glucose is the only nutrient that crosses the blood–brain barrier in large quantities.

Question 34

what does the body need to use glucose

Answer 34

vitamin B1, thiamine