Chapter 3: Biology & Neuroscience Flashcards
nervous system
consists of nerons
neuron
transmits electrical impulses throughout the body.
composed of nucleus and soma etc.
neurons
glial cells
assist neurons by bringing nutrients, providing structural support, speeding up impulses
dendrites
extensions of soma that receive signals from neurons
neurotransmitters
chemicals that bind to receptors to tell neurons to change structure/make protein
soma
cell body (connects to axon hillock)
axon hillock
start of axon
axons
wires that carry electrical signals from soma to terminals
presynaptic neuron
sends signal
postsynaptic
receives signal
axon terminal
releases neurotransmitters
synaptic cleft
gap between neurons
myelin sheath
surrounds axon and helps speed up electrical impulses (signals)
nodes of ranvier
breaks in myelin sheath that allows ions like CL, K , Na to enter and create action potential
propagation
process of electrical impulse being sent to the end of the neuron
excitatory neurotransmitters
increase chance of neurons being activated (hyperpolarization)
inhibitory neurotransmitters
decrease chance of neurons being activated (depolarization)
agonist
drug from outside body that acts as neurotransmitter
antagonist
drug from outside body the inhibits neurotransmitters
compete for binding sites
agonist and antagonist drugs
olidendeocytes
surround myelin sheaths of axons in brain and spinal cord (CNS)
schwann cells
surround myelin sheaths of axons outside brain and spinal cord (PNS)
astrocytes
delivers nutrients and maintains charge
microglia
rids of waste
neural networks
connections between the dendrites and axons of multiple neurons
efferents
carries signal away from CNS
afferents
carries signal toward CNS