Chapter 1 Vocab Flashcards
Structure and Function
- an extension of the cell body that receives information from the other neurons
- functionally, the dendrites are the input zone of the neuron
dendrites
Comes from the Greek dendron, meaning “tree”
a synapse at which a presynaptic axon terminal synapses onto the axon terminal of another neuron. See axo-dendritic synapse, axo-somatic synapse, and dendro-dendritic synapse.
Also known as nerve fiber.
axon
small projections from the surface of the dendrite that add additional space for synapses
dendritic spines
a branch of an axon
axon collaterals
The end of an axon or axon collateral, which forms a synapse onto a neuron or other target cell and thus serves as the output zone.
Where neuron’s signals are transmitted across synapses to other cells.
axon terminals
Also known as synaptic bouton.
The specialized membrane on the axon terminal of a neuron that transmits information by releasing neurtransmitter.
presynaptic membrane
- the space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons at a synapse
- this gap measures about 20-40 nanometers
synaptic cleft
refers to the “transmitting” side of a synapse
presynaptic
the specialized membrane on the surface of a neuron that receives information by responding to neurotransmitter from a presynaptic neuron
postsynaptic membrane
refers to the region of a synapse that receives and responds to the neurotransmitter
postsynaptic
a small, spherical structure that contains molecures of neurotransmitter
synaptic vesicles
the special chemical with which a presynaptic neuron communicates with postsynaptic cells
neurotransmitter
a specialized protein that is embedded in the cell membrane, allowing it to selectrively sense and react to molecules of a corresponding neurotransmitter or drug
neurotransmitter receptors
Also simply called receptor.
- the cone-shaped area on the cell body from which the axon originates
- gathers and integrates information; process of integration determines when neuron will produce neural signals of its own
axon hillock
“little hill”
a type of glial cell that ensheathes axons with myelin in the central nervous system
Compare to the Schwann cell.
oligodendrocytes
a type of glial cell that forms myelin in the peripheral nervous system
Compare to the oligodendrocyte.
Schwann cells
small, unexposed patches of axonal membrane (not covered with myelin)
nodes of Ranvier
- the fatty insulation around an axon, formed by glial cells
- myelin sheath boosts the speed at which action potentials are conducted
myelin
- star-shaped glial cell with numerous processes (extentions) that run in all directions
- some help control local blood flow to increase amount of blood reaching more-active brain regions;
- some help form touch outer membranes that swaddle brain;
- some secrete chemical signals that affect synaptic transmission and the formation of synapses
may also worsen edema after brain injury, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
astrocytes
From the Greek astron or “star”
Extremely small mobile glial cells that remove cellular debris from injured or dead cells.
may also worsen edema after brain injury, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
microglial cells
Or microglia.
gross neuroanatomy
central nervous system (CNS)
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
nerves
motor nerves
sensory nerves
somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system
cranial nerves
CN I Olfactory
CN II Optic
CN III Oculomotor
CN IV Trochlear
CN V Trigeminal
CN VI Abducens
CN VII Facial
CN VIII Vestibulocochlear
CN IX Glossopharyngeal
CN X Vagus
CN XI Spinal accessory
CN XII Hypoglossal
spinal nerves
cervical
thoracic
lumbar
sacral
coccygeal
sympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic nervous system
sagittal plane
coronal plane
horizontal plane
medial
lateral
ipsilateral
contralateral
superior
inferior
basal
anterior
posterior
proximal
distal
afferent
efferent
dorsal
ventral
gray matter
white matter
cerebral hemispheres
cerebral cortex
gyri
sulci
frontal lobe
parietal lobe
temporal lobe
occipital lobe
Sylvia fissure
central sulcus
corpus callosum
postcentral gyrus
precentral gyrus
neural tube
forebrain
midbrain
hindbrain
telencephalon
diencephalon
brainstem
nuclei
tracts
pyramidal cell
cortical columns
basal ganglia
limbic system
amygdala
hippocampus
fornix
cingulate gyrus
olfactory bulb
thalamus
hypothalamus
tectum
superior colliculi
inferior colliculi
tegmentum
substantia nigra
periaqueductal gray
reticular formation
cerebellum
pons
medulla
meninges
dura mater
pia mater
arachnoid
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
meningitis
meningiomas
ventricular system
lateral ventricle
choroid plexus
third ventricle
fourth ventricle
hydrocephalus
glymphatic system
cerebral arteries
blood-brain barrier
stroke
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
histology
Nissl stains
Golgi stains
autoradiography
immunohistochemistry (IHC)
in situ hybridization
tract tracers
computerized axial tomography (CT or CAT scan)
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
functional MRI (fMRI)
positron emission tomography (PET)
transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
magnetoencephalography (MEG)
somatic intervention
independent variable
dependent variable
control group
within-participants experiments
between-participants experiment
behavioral intervention
correlation
causality
conserved
reductionism
levels of analysis
The basic unit of the nervous system, each composed of receptive extensions called dendrites, an integrating cell body, a conducting axon, and a transmitting axon terminal.
neurons
Also called nerve cells
Nonneuronal brain cells that provide structural, nutritional, and other types of support to the brain.
glial cell
Also called glia
The cellular location at which information is transmitted from a neuron to another cell.
The space between two cells.
synapses
The part of a neuron that receives information from other neurons or from specialized sensory structures. The zone usually corresponds to the cell’s dendrites.
1 of 4 zones in neuron. See conduction, integration, output zones.
input zone
The part of a neuron that initiates neural electrical activity. This zone usually corresponds to the neuron’s cell body.
1 of 4 zones in neuron. See input, conduction, and output zones.
integration zone
The region of a neuron that is defined by the presence of the cell nucleus. Functionally, the cell body is part of the integration zone in the neuron.
cell body
Also known as soma.
The part of a neuron–typically the axon–over which the action potential is actively propagated.
1 of 4 neuron zones. See input, integration, and output zones.
conduction zone
The part of a neuron at which the cell sends information to another cell.
1 of 4 neuron zones. See input, conduction, and integration zones.
output zone
A neuron that transmits neural messages to muscles (or glands).
See other functional types of neurons, sensory neuron and interneuron.
motor neurons
Also called motoneurons.
a neuron that is directly affected by changes in the environment, such as light, odor, or touch
See other functional types of neurons, motor neurons and interneurons.
sensory neurons
- a neuron that is neither a sensory nor a motor neuron
- receive input from and sent output to other neurons
See other functional types of neurons, motor and sensory neurons.
interneurons
- have many dendrites and a single axon
- the most common (structural) type of neuron
See other structural types of neurons, bipolar and unipolar neurons.
multipolar neurons
- a neuron that has a single dendrite at one end and a single axon at the other
- especially common in sensory systems (e.g., vision)
See other structural types of neurons, multipolar and unipolar neurons.
bipolar neurons
- a neuron with a single branch that leaves the cell body then extends in two directions – one end is the input zone and the other is the output zone
- transmit touch information from the body into the spinal cord
See other structural types of neurons, multipolar and bipolar neurons.
unipolar neurons
Also known as monopolar neurons.
the ability of the nervous system to change in response to experience or the environment
neuroplasticity
Also called neural plasticity.
to provide neural input to
innervate
the transportation of materials from the neuronal cell body toward the axon terminals, and from the axon terminals back toward the cell body
anterograde = toward axon terminals
retrograde = back to cell body
axonal transport
