Chapter 3 Flashcards
Identify different parts of a Neuron
- dendrites
- soma
- axon
- myelin sheath
- terminal buttons
- synapse
Identify the main functions of Glial Cells
- supply nourishment to neurons
- remove waste from neurons
- provide insulation around axons
- specialist glial cells help make the Myelin Sheath
- support development of nervous system in embryos
- may transmit signals to other glial cells
Describe the Neural Impulse
- a complex neurochemical reaction
- an electrical impulse that travels along the axon
Dendrites
branches of the neuron that receive messages from other cells.
Axon
a long fibre that transmits signals from the soma to other neurons
Myelin Sheath
insulates axons and allows information to be transmitted faster.
-stabilises axon structure
Synapse
the junction where information is moved from one neuron to the next neuron
Glia
cells found throughout the nervous system and support the neurons
Synapse
- the junction where information is moved from one neuron to the next neuron
- where neurons meet
Glia
cells found throughout the nervous system and support the neurons
ions
positive and negative electrically charged molecules that flow back and forth across the cell membrane.
Resting Potential
is the stable negative charge of a cell when the cell is inactive.
Action Potential
the very brief shift in a neuron’s electrical charge that travels along the axon.
Absolute refractory period
the minimum length of time after an action potential and when another action potential cannot occure
All or None Law
either a neuron fires or it doesnt. if there is not enough charge to cause the axon charge above -55 it does not fire and the neural impulse will not pass to the next axon.