Chapter 1: The Human Nervous System

Question 1

cells

Answer 1

the elements that make up all animal tissues

Question 2

nerve cells or neurons

Answer 2

cells that receive and transmit electrochemical signals at large distances throughout the body

Question 3

glial cells

Answer 3

cells that provide structural and chemical support to neurons

Question 4

cell body or soma

Answer 4

contains the specialized cell structures/ organelles within necessary for the function of the cel

Question 5

organelles

Answer 5

specialized cell structures

Question 6

axon

Answer 6

single long extension from the cell body of a neuron that emits electrochemical signals

Question 7

dendrites

Answer 7

shorter extensions that receive electrochemical signals

Question 8

neuronal circuits

Answer 8

rich interconnection of nerves cells for complex intercellular communication

Question 9

neurotransmitters

Answer 9

molecules released from synapses

Question 10

synapse

Answer 10

space between neurons

Question 11

axon hillock

Answer 11

point of origin of the axon from the cell body

Question 12

action potentional

Answer 12

mechanisms that carries signals to additional target cells

Question 13

ion channels/ ion pumps

Answer 13

structures in the cell membrane of cells responsible for maintaining ionic gradients that support the action potential propaganation

Question 14

synaptic bouton/ presynaptic terminal

Answer 14

axon terminal that secrets neurotransmitters to the following synaptic neuron

Question 15

synaptic cleft

Answer 15

intervening space between neurons

Question 16

neurotransmitter receptors

Answer 16

protein structures to which the neurotransmitters bind on the postsynaptic neuron

Question 17

synaptic vesicles

Answer 17

secretory organelles in the presynaptic axon terminal that house neurotransmitter molecules

Question 18

neural circuits

Answer 18

groups of interconnected neurons

Question 19

afferent neurons

Answer 19

nerve cells that carry information towards the central nervous system

Question 20

efferent neurons

Answer 20

nerve cells that carry information away from the central nervous system

Question 21

interneurons

Answer 21

nerves the participate in only the local aspects of the neural circuit (such as the brain)

Question 22

spinal reflex arc

Answer 22

an example of a simple neural circuit that is responsible for the “knee-jerk” response

Question 23

sensory neurons

Answer 23

bipolar cells whose bodies are located in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord and whose peripheral axons terminate in the special sensory receptors in the relevant muscles

Question 24

motor neurons

Answer 24

neurons that give rise to the axons that form the efferent portion of the reflex arc

Question 25

grey matter

Answer 25

portion of the brain that contains cell bodies

Question 26

white matter

Answer 26

portion of the brain that contains myelinated axons

Question 27

postsynaptic element

Answer 27

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Question 28

presynaptic element

Answer 28

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Question 29

synaptic cleft

Answer 29

space between two neurons at the synapse

Question 30

synaptic vesicles

Answer 30

structures within the axon terminal of a neuron that contain neurotransmitters

Question 31

postsynaptic potential

Answer 31

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Question 32

electrical synapse

Answer 32

less common type of synapse in which electrical current flows across the synapse; the neurons are linked to transmit this passive, bidirectional, and fast electrochemical signals

Question 33

chemical synapse

Answer 33

more common synapse in which chemicals (neurotransmitters) flow across the synaptic gap; these signals travel slower, the sides are not linked and the signal travels in one direction

Question 34

ionotropic receptors

Answer 34

receptors that are directly linked to ion channels & produce very rapid effects

Question 35

metabrotropic receptors

Answer 35

receptors that are indirectly linked to ion channels & produce slower effects

Question 36

EPSPs (excitatory post synaptic potentials)

Answer 36

neurotransmitters that increase the likelihood of an action potential occuring

Question 37

IPSPs (inhibitory post synaptic potentials)

Answer 37

neurotransmitters that decrease the likelihood of an action potential occurring

Question 38

glutamate

Answer 38

is the main excitatory transmitter in the brain that is synthesized in the soma of a neuron; it can be received by 3 ionotropic receptors & 3 meta metabrotropic receptors