Chapter 8

Question 1

rapid depolarization and repolarization of the plasma membrane capable of spreading down the neuron or muscle membrane; nerve impulse

Answer 1

action potential

Question 2

carrying toward a given point, such as a sensory neuron that carries nerve impulses toward the central nervous system

Answer 2

afferent

Question 3

the part of the nervous system that controls smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands; the visceral or involuntary nervous system

Answer 3

autonomic nervous system

Question 4

fiber of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the cell body

Answer 4

axon

Question 5

neuron fiber that conducts impulses toward the cell body

Answer 5

dendrite

Question 6

reduction of the membrane potential membrane (charge) resulting from the entry cations or the exit of anions

Answer 6

depolarization

Question 7

muscle or gland that responds to a signal

Answer 7

effector

Question 8

carrying away from a given point, such as a motor neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the central nervous system

Answer 8

efferent

Question 9

collection of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system

Answer 9

ganglion

Question 10

nerve cell that transmits impulses within the central nervous system or enteric (gastrointestinal) nervous system

Answer 10

interneuron

Question 11

neurotransmitter; released at synapses within the nervous system and at the neuromuscular junction

Answer 11

acetylcholine

Question 12

describing structures or activities involved in transmitting impulses away from the central nervous system; efferent; pertaining to or producing movement

Answer 12

motor

Question 13

bundle of neuron fibers outside the central nervous system

Answer 13

nerve

Question 14

electric charge that spreads along the membrane of a neuron; action potential

Answer 14

nerve impulse

Question 15

supporting and protecting cells of the nervous system; glial cells

Answer 15

neuroglia

Question 16

conducting cell of the nervous system

Answer 16

neuron

Question 17

chemical released from the ending of an axon that enables a nerve impulse to cross a chemical synapse

Answer 17

neurotransmitter

Question 18

neurotransmitter similar in composition and action to the hormone epinephrine

Answer 18

norepinephrine

Question 19

craniosacral division of the autonomic nervous system; generally reserves the fight-or-flight (stress) response

Answer 19

parasympathetic nervous system

Question 20

network of vessels or nerves

Answer 20

plexus

Question 21

distal to the synaptic cleft

Answer 21

postsynaptic

Question 22

proximal to the synaptic cleft

Answer 22

presynaptic

Question 23

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

Answer 23

receptor

Question 24

simple, rapid, automatic response to a specific stimulus

Answer 24

reflex

Question 25

a change in the membrane potential that brings it closer to the resting value

Answer 25

repolarization

Question 26

transmission of an electric impulse from node to node along the myelinated fiber; faster than continuous conduction along the entire membrane

Answer 26

saltatory conduction

Question 27

describing cells or activities involved in transmitting impulses toward the central nervous system; afferent; pertaining to the senses

Answer 27

sensory

Question 28

division of the nervous system that controls voluntary activities and stimulates skeletal muscle

Answer 28

somatic nervous system

Question 29

thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system; stimulates a fight-on-flight (stress) response

Answer 29

sympathetic nervous system

Question 30

junction between two neurons or between a neuron and an effector

Answer 30

synapse

Question 31

bundle of neuron fibers within the central nervous system

Answer 31

tract