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Physiological Psychology > Chapter 2: Structure and Functions of Cells of the Nervous System > Flashcards

Chapter 2: Structure and Functions of Cells of the Nervous System Flashcards

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1
Q

cytoplasm

A

the viscous, semiliquid substance contained in the interior of a cell.

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2
Q

mitochondrion

A

an organelle that is responsible for extracting energy from nutrients.

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3
Q

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

A

a molecule of prime importance to cellular energy metabolism; its breakdown liberates energy.

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4
Q

endoplasmic reticulum

A

parallel layers of membrane found within the cytoplasm of a cell. Rough endoplasmic reticulum contains ribosomes and is involved with production of proteins that are secreted by the cell. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is the site of synthesis of lipids and provides channels for the segregation of molecules involved in various cellular processes.

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5
Q

Golgi apparatus

A

a complex of parallel membranes in the cytoplasm that wraps the products of a secretory cell.

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6
Q

exocytosis

A

the secretion of a substance by a cell through means of vesicles; the process by which neurotransmitters are secreted.

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7
Q

lysosome

A

an organelle surrounded by membrane; contains enzymes that break down waste products.

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8
Q

cytoskeleton

A

formed of microtubules and other protein fibers, linked to each other and forming a cohesive mass that gives a cell its shape.

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9
Q

microtubule

A

a long strand of bundles of protein filaments arranged around a hollow core; part of the cytoskeleton and involved in transporting substances from place to place within the cell.

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10
Q

axoplasmic transport

A

an active process by which substances are propelled along microtubules that run the length of the axon.

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11
Q

anterograde

A

in a direction along an axon from the cell body toward the terminal buttons

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12
Q

retrograde

A

in a direction along an axon from the terminal buttons toward the cell body.

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13
Q

glia

A

the supporting cells of the central nervous system

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14
Q

astrocyte

A

a glial cell that provides support for neurons of the central nervous system, provides nutrients and other substances, and regulates the chemical composition of the extracellular fluid,

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15
Q

phagocytosis

A

the process by which cells engulf and digest other cells or debris caused by cellular degeneration.

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16
Q

oligodendrocyte

A

a type of glial cell in the central nervous system that forms myelin sheaths.

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17
Q

myelin sheath

A

a sheath that surrounds axons and insulates them, preventing messages from spreading between adjacent axons.

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18
Q

node of Ranvier

A

a naked portion of a myelinated axon between adjacent oligodendroglia or Schwann cell.

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19
Q

microglia

A

the smallest of glial cells; act as phagocytes and protect the brain from invading microorganisms.

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20
Q

Schwann cell

A

a cell in the peripheral nervous system that is wrapped around a myelinated axon, providing one segment of its myelin sheath.

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21
Q

blood-brain barrier

A

a semipermeable barrier between the blood and the brain produced by the cells in the walls of the brain’s capillaries.

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22
Q

area postrema

A

a region of the medulla where the blood-brain barrier is weak; poisons can be detected there and can initiate vomiting.

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23
Q

electrode

A

a conductive medium that can be used to apply electrical stimulation or to record electrical potentials.

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24
Q

microelectrode

A

a very fine electrode, generally used to record activity of individual neurons.

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25
Q

membrane potential

A

the electrical charge across a cell membrane; the difference in electrical potential inside and outside the cell.

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26
Q

oscilloscope

A

a laboratory instrument that is capable of displaying a graph of voltage as a function of time on the face of a cathode ray tube.

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27
Q

resting potential

A

the membrane potential of a neuron when it is not being altered by excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials; approximately -70 mV in the giant squid axon.

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28
Q

depolarization

A

reduction (toward zero) of the membrane potential of a cell from its normal resting potential.

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29
Q

hyperpolariztion

A

an increase in the membrane potential of a cell, relative to the normal resting potential.

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30
Q

action potential

A

the brief electrical impulse that provides the basis for conduction of information along an axon.

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31
Q

threshold of excitation

A

the value of the membrane potential that must be reached to reduce an action potential.

32
Q

diffusion

A

movement of molecules from regions of high concentration to regions of low concentration.

33
Q

electrolyte

A

an aqueous solution of a material that ionizes — namely, a soluble acid, base, or salt.

34
Q

ion

A

a charged molecule. Cations are positively charged, and anions are negatively charged.

35
Q

electrostatic pressure

A

the attractive force between atomic particles charged with opposite signs or the repulsive force between atomic particles charged with the same sign.

36
Q

intracellular fluid

A

the fluid contained within cells.

37
Q

extracellular fluid

A

body fluids located outside of cells.

38
Q

sodium-potassium transporter

A

a protein found in the membrane of all cells that extrudes sodium ions from and transports potassium ions into the cell.

39
Q

ion channel

A

a specialized protein molecule that permits specific ions to enter or leave cells.

40
Q

voltage-dependent ion channel

A

an ion channel that opens or closes according to the value of the membrane potential.

41
Q

all-or-none law

A

the principle that once an action potential is triggered in an axon, it is propagated, without decrement, to the end of the fiber.

42
Q

rate law

A

the principle that variations in the intensity of a stimulus or other information being transmitted in an axon are represented by variations in the rate at which that axon fires.

43
Q

cable properties

A

the passive conduction of electrical current, in a decremental fashion, down the length of an axon.

44
Q

saltatory conduction

A

conduction of action potentials by myelinated axons. The action potential appears to jump from one node of Ranvier to the next.

45
Q

postsynaptic potential

A

alterations in the membrane potential of a postsynaptic neuron, produced by liberation of neurotransmitter at the synapse.

46
Q

binding site

A

the location on a receptor protein to which a ligand binds.

47
Q

dendritic spine

A

a small bud on the surface of a dendrite, with which a terminal button of another neuron forms synapse.

48
Q

presynaptic membrane

A

the membrane of a terminal button that lies adjacent to the postsynaptic membrane and through which the neurotransmitter is released.

49
Q

postsynaptic membrane

A

the cell membrane opposite the terminal button in a synapse; the membrane of the cell that receives the message.

50
Q

synaptic cleft

A

the space between the presynaptic membrane and the postsynaptic membrane.

51
Q

synaptic vesicle

A

a small, hollow, beadlike structure found in terminal buttons; contains molecules of a neurotransmitter.

52
Q

release zone

A

a region of the interior of the presynaptic membrane of a synapse to which synaptic vesicles attach and release their neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft.

53
Q

postsynaptic receptor

A

a receptor molecule in the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse that contains a binding site for a neurotransmitter.

54
Q

neurotransmitter-dependent ion channel

A

an ion channel that opens when a molecule of a neurotransmitter binds with a postsynaptic receptor.

55
Q

ionotropic receptor

A

a receptor that contains a binding site for a neurotransmitter and an ion channel that opens when a molecule of the neurotransmitter attaches to the binding site.

56
Q

metabotropic receptor

A

a receptor that contains a building site for a neurotransmitter; activates an enzyme that beings a series of events that opens an ion channel elsewhere in the membrane of the cell when a molecule of the neurotransmitter attaches to the binding site.

57
Q

G protein

A

a protein coupled to a metabotropic receptor; conveys messages to other molecules when a ligand binds with and activates the receptor.

58
Q

second messenger

A

a chemical produced when a G protein activates an enzyme; carries a signal that results in the opening of the ion channel or causes other events to occur in the cell.

59
Q

excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

A

an excitatory depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse caused by the liberation of a neurotransmitter by the terminal button.

60
Q

inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

A

an inhibitory hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse caused by the liberation of a neurotransmitter by the terminal button.

61
Q

reuptake

A

the reentry of neurotransmitter just liberated by a terminal button back through its membrane, thus terminating the postsynaptic potential.

62
Q

enzymatic deactivation

A

the destruction of a neurotransmitter by an enzyme after its release — for example, the destruction of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase.

63
Q

acetylcholine (ACh)

A

a neurotransmitter found in the brain, spinal cord, and parts of the peripheral nervous system; responsible for muscular contraction.

64
Q

acetylcholinesterase

A

the enzyme that destroys acetylcholine soon after it is liberated by the terminal buttons, thus terminating the postsynaptic potential.

65
Q

neural integration

A

the process by which inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic potentials summate and control the rate of firing of a neuron.

66
Q

autoreceptor

A

a receptor molecule located on a neuron that responds to the neurotransmitter released by that neuron.

67
Q

presynaptic inhibition

A

the action of a presynaptic terminal button in an axoaxonic synapse; reduces the amount of neurotransmitter released by the postsynaptic terminal button.

68
Q

presynaptic facilitation

A

the action of a presynaptic terminal button in an axoaxonic synapse; increases the amount of neurotransmitter released by the postsynaptic terminal button.

69
Q

gap junction

A

a special junction between cells that permits direct communication by means of electrical coupling.

70
Q

neuromodulator

A

a naturally secreted substance that acts like a neurotransmitter except that it is not restricted to the synaptic cleft but diffuses through the extracellular fluid.

71
Q

peptide

A

a chain of amino acids joined together by peptide bonds. Most neuromodulators, and some hormones, consist of peptide molecules.

72
Q

hormone

A

a chemical substance that is released by an endocrine gland that has effects on target cells in other organs.

73
Q

endocrine gland

A

a gland that liberates its secretions into the extracellular fluid around capillaries and hence into the bloodstream.

74
Q

target cell

A

the type of cell that is directly affected by a hormone or other chemical signal.

75
Q

steroid

A

a chemical of low molecular weight, derived from cholesterol. Steroid hormones affect their target cells by attaching to receptors found within the nucleus.

Physiological Psychology (1 decks)

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