Chapter 12 All Vocab Flashcards
bipolar neurons
nerve cell with one dendrite and one axon; only found in special sense organ
autonomic nervous system
this controls the regulation of smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands at the subconscious level
interneurons
an association nerve cell that relays information between sensory and motor nerve cells
somatic nervous system
this is the system used to control skeletal muscles and voluntary contractions
neurons
cells of the nervous system that perform communication, information processing, and control functions
central nervous system
this consists of the brain and spinal cord
axon
part of a nerve cell used to propagate an action potential
neuroglia
supporting cells of the nervous sytem
peripheral nervous system
consists mainly of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
afferent (sensory) division
conducts impulses from receptors in the PNS to the CNS
unipolar neurons
nerve cell with fused dendrites with an axon, and a cell body off to the side; most sensory nerve cells of the PNS are classified as these
dendrites
these are used to receive signals from other neurons
multipolar neurons
nerve cell with two or more dendrites and a single axon; most common nerve cell in the CNS
efferent (motor) division
conducts impulses from the CNS to muscles, glands, and adipose tissue
action potential
this is a propagated change in the transmembrane potential that affects an entrire excitable membrane
excitatory neurotransmitters
these chemicals cause depolarization and generate action potentials on the postsynaptic membrane
threshold
this is the point, when reached, ay which an action potential begins
absolute refractory period
period of time in which a membrane is establishing a normal resting potential and cannot respond to any stimulus regardless of how big it is
repolarization
process of restoring the normal resting potential
sodium-potassium pump
this is the active transport mechanism used to maintain a membrane’s resting potential by moving ions back and forth across the plasma membrane
resting potential
transmembrane potential of a cell while not active
excitable membrane
this is capable of generating and conducting an action potential; an example would be the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle fibers
hyperpolarization
process of increasing the negativity of the normal resting potential
propagation
this is the term describing the relaying on an electrical message from one location to the next along a membrane
inhibitory neurotransmitters
these chemicals cause hyperpolarization and suppress the generation of action potenitals
relative refractory period
period of time in which a membrane is establishing a normal resting potential and can be depolarized with a larger-than-normal stimulus
depolarization
process of shifting a resting potential to a more positive potential
action potential
this is a propagated change in the transmembrane potential that affects an entire excitable membrane
threshold
this is the point, when reached, at which an action potential begins
excitatory neurotransmitters
these chemicals cause depolarization and generate action potentials on the postsynaptic membrane
absolute refractory period
period of time in which a membrane is establishing a normal resting potential and cannot respond to any stimulus regardless of how big it is
repolarization
process of restoring the normal resting potential
sodium-potassium pump
this is the active transport mechanism used to maintain a membrane’s resting potential by moving ions back and forth across the plasma membrane
resting potential
transmembrane potential of a cell while not active
excitable membrane
this is capable of generating and conducting an action potential; an example would be the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle fibers
hyperpolarization
process of increasing the negativity of the normal resting potential
propagation
this is the term describing the relating of an electrical message from one location to the next along a membrane
inhibitory neurotransmitters
these chemicals cause hyperpolarization and suppress the generation of action potentials
relative refractory period
period of time in which a membrane is establishing a normal resting potential and can be depolarized with a larger-than-normal stimulus
depolarization
process of shifting a resting potential to a more positive potential
