Chapter 8 Flashcards
rapid depolarization and repolarization of the plasma membrane capable of spreading down the neuron or muscle membrane; nerve impulse
action potential
carrying toward a given point, such as a sensory neuron that carries nerve impulses toward the central nervous system
afferent
the part of the nervous system that controls smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands; the visceral or involuntary nervous system
autonomic nervous system
fiber of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the cell body
axon
neuron fiber that conducts impulses toward the cell body
dendrite
reduction of the membrane potential membrane (charge) resulting from the entry cations or the exit of anions
depolarization
muscle or gland that responds to a signal
effector
carrying away from a given point, such as a motor neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the central nervous system
efferent
collection of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system
ganglion
nerve cell that transmits impulses within the central nervous system or enteric (gastrointestinal) nervous system
interneuron
neurotransmitter; released at synapses within the nervous system and at the neuromuscular junction
acetylcholine
describing structures or activities involved in transmitting impulses away from the central nervous system; efferent; pertaining to or producing movement
motor
bundle of neuron fibers outside the central nervous system
nerve
electric charge that spreads along the membrane of a neuron; action potential
nerve impulse
supporting and protecting cells of the nervous system; glial cells
neuroglia
conducting cell of the nervous system
neuron
chemical released from the ending of an axon that enables a nerve impulse to cross a chemical synapse
neurotransmitter
neurotransmitter similar in composition and action to the hormone epinephrine
norepinephrine
craniosacral division of the autonomic nervous system; generally reserves the fight-or-flight (stress) response
parasympathetic nervous system
network of vessels or nerves
plexus
distal to the synaptic cleft
postsynaptic
proximal to the synaptic cleft
presynaptic
specialized cell or ending of a sensory neuron that can be excited by a stimulus; protein in the plasma membrane or other part of a cell that binds a chemical signal (ex. hormone) resulting in a change in cellular activity
receptor
simple, rapid, automatic response to a specific stimulus
reflex
a change in the membrane potential that brings it closer to the resting value
repolarization
transmission of an electric impulse from node to node along the myelinated fiber; faster than continuous conduction along the entire membrane
saltatory conduction
describing cells or activities involved in transmitting impulses toward the central nervous system; afferent; pertaining to the senses
sensory
division of the nervous system that controls voluntary activities and stimulates skeletal muscle
somatic nervous system
thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system; stimulates a fight-on-flight (stress) response
sympathetic nervous system
junction between two neurons or between a neuron and an effector
synapse
bundle of neuron fibers within the central nervous system
tract
