M1: Neural Functioning Flashcards
Neurons
cells in the nervous system responsible for information transmission
Glial Cells
cells int he nervous system responsible for support, feeding, recycling, development, etc
Ribosomes
organelles in a cell that are the site of protein production, crucial to much neural functioning
Mitochondria
organelles in a cell that are the source of energy (ATP) to power active (rather than passive) functions in cell
Dendrites vs Axon
Processes (branches) of a neuron that receive the incoming message vs the one that releases the outgoing message
Concentration vs Electrical Gradient
Difference in the amount of a given chemical inside/outside a cell vs a difference in charge inside/outside a cell
Na+, K+, Ca++, Cl-
Symbols for 4 key elements in neural functioning - including 3 positive ions and 1 negative ion
Resting Potential (-70mV)
Name for AND amount of difference in charge inside/outside cell, in millivolts (mV), in polarized cell ready to fire
Sodium-potassium pump
Energy-requiring pump that helps restore membrane potential after cell fires
Action Potential
A sequence of depolarization that moves along an axon, resulting in the all-or-nothing release of NT’s
Axon Hillock
section of axon where depolarization sequence begins
Graded Potential
A greater or lesser change in the polarity of a neuron that results in a greater or lesser release of NT
Ionic Conduction vs Electrical Conduction
Propagation of info down an axon by way of chemical gates opening/closing vs by flow of electrons
Saltatory Conduction
“Jumping” electrical conduction that occurs in myelinated axons
Myelination
Glia cells wrapping around sections of an axon to insulate it and speed its information transmission
Nodes of Ranvier
gaps between myelin sheaths on an axon
Multiple Sclerosis
disease that destroys myelin; no ion gates under sheath so neurons cannot fire
Refactory Period
pewriod follwoing an action potential during which the cell cannot (or is more difficult to) fire
Synapse
The event in which one cell releases NT and that NT affects another cell
Synaptic Cleft
the gap between cells across which NT Passively floats
Pre-synaptic Cells vs Post-Synaptic Cells
the cell that releases the NT vs the cell that receives the NT
Pre-synaptic terminal
the end of the axon from which NT is released, also called “button” or “end bulb”
Vesicles
Packets of NT released by a neuron
Exocytosis
the release of NT into cleft via its packet opening at a Fusion Pore in the cell’s membrane
Receptor Site
area, usually on a dendrite, that is specialized for the attachment of NT
EPSP (excitatory post-synaptic potential) vs IPSP (inhibatory post-synaptic potential)
an increase vs a decrease in a cell’s likelihood of releasing a neurotransmitter
Hyper- vs hypo-polarization
less polarized, less difference between inside of a cell and outside of cell vs more difference
Summation
cumulative effect of the activity of multiple pre-synaptic cells; can be temporal or spatial
Ionotropic vs Metabotropic
when NT has direct effect on ion channels in postsynaptic vs indirect effects via internal metabolic processes
Second Messenger
Chemical in postsynaptic cell involved in energy-requiring processes (including altering ion channels) triggered by NT
Neurotransmitters vs Neuromodulators
chemical released by presynaptic cells that directly affect local postsynaptic cell vs ones that widely influence neural activity
Agonist vs Antagonist
chemical (endogenous or man-made) that acts to faciliate vs to reduce the effects of specific NT’s
Reuptake
Process by which NT’s or their components re-enter the presynaptic cell for re-use
Acetylcholinesterase
enzyme in cleft that breaks down acetylcholine
auto-receptors
site on presynaptic terminal that reacts to that cell’s own NT, usually acting to turn off/down that cell’s further NT release
Axoaxonic Synapses
synapses at a presynaptic terminal that reacts to NT from another cell, excitatory or inhibitory
