Chapter 3 - Cells Of The Nervous System Flashcards
Neuron
A cell of the nervous system that is specialized for information processing and communication
Action potential
The nerve impulse arising in a axon
Glia
Cells in the nervous system that support the activities of neurons
Organelle
A small structure within a cell that carries out a specific function
Cell body / soma
The main mass of a neuron, containing the nucleus and many organelles
Axon
The branch of a neuron usually responsible for carrying signals to other neurons
Dendrite
The branch of a neuron that generally receives information from other neurons
Intracellular fluid
The fluid inside a cell
Extracellular Fluid
The fluid surrounding a cell
Permeability
A property of a substance that determines the extent to which other substances pass through it
Ion channel
A protein structure embedded in a cell membrane that allows ions to pass through it without the use of additional energy
Ion pump
A protein structure embedded in a cell membrane that uses energy to move ions across the membrane
Ion
A electrically charged particle in solution
Voltage-dependent channel
An ion channel that opens or closes in response to the local electrical environment
Ligand-gated channel
An ion channel in the neural membrane that responds to chemical messengers
Sodium-potassium pump
An ion pump that uses energy to transfer three sodium ions to the Extracellular fluid for every two potassium ions retrieved from the Extracellular fluid
Calcium pump
A protein structure embedded in the neural membrane that uses energy to move the calcium ions out of the cell
Neurotransmitter
A chemical messenger that transfers information across s synapse
Cytoskeleton
A network of filaments that provides the internal structure of a neuron
Microtubule
The largest fiber in the cell cytoskeleton, responsible for the transport of neurotransmitters and other products to and from the cell body
Anterograde transport
Movement of materials from the cell body of a neuron to the axon terminal along the Microtubules
Retrograde transport
Movement of material from the axon terminal back to the cell body via the cells system of Microtubules
Tau phosphorylation
Molecules of phosphate added to the tau protein lead to neurofibrillary tangles and structural collapse
Neurofilament
A neural fiber found in the cell cytoskeleton that is responsible for structural support
Microfilament
The smallest fiber found in the cell cytoskeleton that may participate in the changing of length and shape of axons and dendrites
Nucleus
The substructure within a cell body that contains the cells DNA
Nucleolus
A substructure within a cell Nucleus where ribosomes are produced
Ribosome
An organelle in the cell body involved with protein synthesis
Endoplasmic reticulum
An organelle in the cell body that participates in protein synthesis
Golgi apparatus
An organelle in the cell body that packages proteins in vesicles
Mitochondria
Organelles that provide energy to the cell by transforming pyruvic acid and oxygen into molecules of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Synaptic gap
The tiny fluid filled space between neurons forming a synapse
Dendritic spine
A knob on the dendrite that provides additional membrane area for the formation of synapses with other neurons
Axon hillock
The cone-shaped segment of axon located at the junction of the axon and cell body that is specialized for the generation of axon potentials
Myelin
The fatty insulating material covering some axons that boosts the speed and efficiency of electrical signaling
Local circuit neuron
A neuron that communicates with neurons in its immediate vicinity
Projection neuron
A neuron with a very long axon that communicates with neurons in distant areas of the nervous system
Collateral
One of the branches near the end of the axon closest to its targets
Axon terminal
The swelling at the tip of an axon collateral specialized for the release of neuro transmitter substances
Synaptic vesicle
A small structure in the axon terminal that contains neurotransmitters
Node of Ranvier
The uncovered section of axon membrane between two adjacent segments of myelin
Unipolar neuron
A neuron with one branch that extends a short distance from the cell body then splits into two branches
Bipolar neuron
A axon with two branches; one axon and one dendrite
Multipolar neuron
A neuron that has multiple branches, usually one axon and numerous dendrites
Sensory neuron
A specialized neuron that translates incoming sensory information into electrical signals
Motor neuron
A specialized neuron that communicates with muscles and glands
Inter neuron
A neuron that serves as a bridge between sensory and motor neurons
Macro glia
Large glial cells, including astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann Cells
Microglia
Tiny, mobile glial cells that migrate to areas of damage and digest debris
Astrocyte
A large, star shaped glial cell of the central nervous system, responsible for structural support, isolation of the synapse, control of the Extracellular chemical environment at the synapse, and possible communication
Oligodendrocyte
A glial cell that forms the myelin on central nervous system axons
Schwann Cell
A glial cell that forms the myelin on axons in the peripheral nervous system
Resting potential
The measurement of the electrical charge across the neural membrane when the cell is not processing information
Diffusion
The force that moves molecules from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration
Concentration gradient
An unequal distribution in the concentration of molecules across a cell membrane
Electrical force
The force that moves molecules with like electrical charges apart and those with opposite electrical charges together
Depolarization
The movement of an electrical charge within a cell in a more positive direction
Threshold
The level id depolarization at which an action potential is initiated
