Midterm 1 Flashcards
acetylcholine (ACh) -
A neurotransmitter released from somatic motor neurons, pre-ganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic motor neurons, and post-ganglionic parasympathetic motor neurons.
action potential -
A short-lasting electrical event in which the membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises above the threshold of excitation, then falls. Occur in excitable cells such as neurons, muscle cells, and endocrine cells. Form of communication from one cell to another. In muscle cells, action potentials activate intracellular processes.
adrenal cortex -
The outer layer of the adrenal gland that produces steroid hormones: cortisol, aldosterone, and androgen.
adrenal gland -
Also known as suprarenal glands, these are endocrine glands that produce a variety of hormones, including epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, aldosterone, and androgen.
adrenal medulla -
The inner layer of the adrenal gland that produces catecholamines: epinephrine and norepinephrine.
adrenaline -
The generic name for epinephrine, one of the catecholamines released from the adrenal medulla. Most of the adrenal medullas, secretion is this (epinephrine).
adrenergic -
Refers to the effects of adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine).
afferent neuron -
A sensory neuron.
all-or-none principle -
In regards to a neuron, if the stimulus reaches the threshold of excitation, an action potential will be propagated the length of the axon, otherwise there will be no response. In regards to skeletal muscle, single twitches of motor units will contract fully, or not at all.
alpha motor neuron -
Also called a somatic motor neuron, this is a neuron that innervates skeletal muscle.
alpha receptor -
An adrenergic receptor that binds with both epinephrine and norepinephrine to cause vasoconstriction.
annulospiral sensory neurons -
One of the two types of sensory neurons that wrap around the center of both types of intrafusal fibers. Detect the rate of change in length of the muscle.
antagonistic control -
The type of neural control of effector organs of the autonomic nervous system that have dual innervation by sympathetic (excitatory) and parasympathetic (inhibitory) motor neurons. The activity of the organ is a function of the net effect, or sum of excitatory and inhibitory stimulation.
atrophy -
A decrease in the size of an organ. In skeletal muscle, a decrease in the cross-sectional area of the muscle.
autonomic nervous system -
The part of the nervous system that controls smooth muscle, the heart, and glands. Most organs of this have dual innervation.
axon hillock -
A part of the cell body that connects to the axon. Thought to be where an action potential originates from the sum of synaptic inputs to the dendrites of the cell body.
beta receptor -
An adrenergic receptor that binds with both epinephrine and norepinephrine to cause various responses depending on the specific type of receptor.
catecholamines -
A generic name for water-soluble organic compounds (epinephrine and norepinephrine) released from the adrenal medulla as part of the fight-or-flight response.
central nervous system (CNS) -
From an organizational perspective, the central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.
cholinergic -
Refers to the effects of acetylcholine.
cholinergic receptor -
A receptor that binds with acetylcholine. These include nicotinic receptors and muscarinic receptors.
contraction -
The development of tension resulting from the interaction of actin and myosin filaments in muscle cells.
cytoplasm -
Composed of cytosol (the watery substance inside the cell membrane) and the organelles of the cell. This is the location of most cellular activities, such as glycolysis.
dendrites -
Branched projections from the cell body of a neuron that receive electrical stimulation from other nerve cells and propagate the stimulation to the cell body.
depolarization -
The brief and rapid shift of a cell’s internal electrical charge from its negative resting membrane potential to a positive charge.
dorsal root -
One of two roots that emerge from the spinal cord. location of sensory neuron entry into the spinal cord.
dorsal root ganglia -
A cluster of cell bodies of sensory neurons in the dorsal root of the spinal cord.
effector organ -
The target organ of motor neurons.
efferent neuron -
A motor neuron.
endocrine glands -
A gland of the endocrine system that secretes hormones directly into the blood.
epinephrine (EPI) -
One of the two catecholamines secreted by the adrenal medulla. Also known as adrenaline.
excitability -
A property of some cells, such as nerve and muscle cells, to depolarize.
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) -
A hypopolarizing graded potential that makes the postsynaptic membrane more likely to reach the threshold of excitation and to fire and action potential.
exocrine glands -
Glands that synthesize and secrete substances by way of a duct (rather than secreting the substance directly into the blood). Examples are sweat and salivary glands.
extrafusal fibers -
Skeletal muscle fibers surrounding the muscle spindle.
fight or flight -
An acute stress response of the autonomic nervous system to a perceived threat characterized by increased sympathetic activity that primes the body.
flower spray sensory neurons -
One of the two types of sensory neurons that wrap around the center of the nuclear chain intrafusal fibers. Detect the rate of change in length of the muscle.
gamma motor neuron -
A motor neuron that innervates the muscle spindle, causing it to contract (shorten) or relax (lengthen) to maintain proportionately the same length as the surrounding skeletal muscle fibers.
ganglia -
A cluster of cell bodies
glucagon -
A hormone produced by the alpha cells of the pancreas and released in response to low blood glucose levels to raise blood glucose levels by stimulating liver glycogenolysis. The actions are in opposition to the actions of insulin.
glucosuria -
The excretion of glucose into the urine. Ordinarily, urine contains no glucose. High blood glucose levels, such as in diabetes mellitus, results in glucose spilling over into the urine since the kidneys are unable to reclaim the filtered glucose back into the blood.
GLUT - 4
Glucose transporter that transports blood glucose across the skeletal muscle cell sarcolemma.
golgi tendon organ -
A proprioceptive sensory receptor located in the tendons of skeletal muscle that senses forces of contraction. Also called the inverse myotatic reflex, results in the inhibition of the antagonist muscle group.
graded potential -
Changes in the membrane potential that vary in size (as opposed to being all-or-none). Can be hypopolarizing or hyperpolarizing.
growth hormone -
Also known as *somatotropin * a peptide (made from amino acids) hormone synthesized and released from the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates growth and cell reproduction.
hormone -
Signaling molecules produced by a gland and transported in the blood to target organs throughout the body to regulate physiology.
hyperglycemia -
High blood glucose levels.
hyperpolarization -
A graded potential that moves in the negative direction, further away from the threshold of excitation.
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) -
A change in the membrane potential (more negative away from the threshold of excitation) that makes it less likely that an action potential will occur. A hyperpolarization of the cell membrane.
insulin -
A hormone released from the beta cells of the pancreas in response to rising blood glucose levels. Promotes the absorption of glucose from the blood into skeletal muscle and fat tissue.
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) -
Usually referred to as type 1 diabetes (T1D). Previously referred to as juvenile onset diabetes. A form of diabetes mellitus resulting from the autoimmune destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas, which leads to an increase in blood (and urine) glucose. Administration of insulin is essential.
interneuron -
A neuron that connects a sensory neuron to a motor neuron in the central nervous system.
intrafusal fibers -
Muscle fibers that serve as specialized sensory proprioceptors in the muscle spindle that detect the amount and rate of stretch of a muscle. There are two types: nuclear bag and nuclear chain fibers. The ends of the fibers are innervated by gamma motor neurons. The ends contract.
mitochondria -
An organelle found in most cells. Described as the powerhouse of the cell because most of the energy (i.e., ATP) is generated in the mitochondria. Compartments or regions of the include the intermembrane space, inner membrane, cristae, and matrix.
motor end-plate -
A region on the sarcolemma of a skeletal muscle fiber that includes invaginations, or folds, which increase the surface area of the membrane. This region contains cholinergic receptors to which acetylcholine released from the motor neuron will bind.
motor neuron -
One of the three categories of neurons (sensory, motor, interneuron). Transmit action potentials away from the central nervous system.
motor unit -
One somatic motor neuron and all of the muscle fibers that it innervates.
muscarinic receptor -
One of cholinergic receptors that bind with acetylcholine.
muscle spindle -
A proprioceptive receptor embedded in the belly of skeletal muscle (extrafusal fibers) that detects changes in length and the rate of change in length. Responsible for the stretch reflex, or the myotatic reflex.
myelin sheath -
A fatty substance that wraps around the axon of some neurons. Increases the rate of conduction of action potentials the length of the axon.
myotatic reflex -
The stretch reflex initiated by the muscle spindle.
nerve -
A bundle of nerve cells (i.e., neurons).
nerve impulse -
A short-lasting electrical event in which the membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises above the threshold of excitation, then falls. Action potentials are a form of communication from one cell to another. In muscle cells, action potentials activate intracellular processes. See also action potential.
neuroeffector junction -
A site where an autonomic motor neuron releases a neurotransmitter at the effector organ.
neuromuscular junction -
A chemical synapse between the terminal ends of a somatic motor neuron and the membrane of a skeletal muscle fiber.
neuron -
A nerve cell.
neurotransmitter -
A chemical messenger synthesized in a neuron and released from vesicles in its terminal ends. Binds to a matching receptor, causing a specific response.
nicotinic receptor -
One of the two cholinergic receptors that bind with acetylcholine.
nodes of ranvier -
One of the two cholinergic receptors that bind with acetylcholine.
norepinephrine (NE) -
One of the two catecholamines secreted by the adrenal medulla. Also known as nor-adrenaline.
nuclear bag fibers -
One of the two types of intrafusal fibers in the muscle spindle that stretch when the muscle is stretched.
nuclear chain fibers -
One of the two types of intrafusal fibers in the muscle spindle that stretch when the muscle is stretched.
parasympathetic nervous system -
One of the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system. Stimulates “rest and digest” activities in the body. Organs that are innervated by sympathetic and parasympathetic motor neurons have dual innervation and antagonistic control.
peripheral nervous system (PNS) -
Part of the nervous system that includes nerves and ganglia outside of the brain and spinal cord. Connects the central nervous system with the organs and extremities.
proprioception -
The sense of position of body parts (e.g., head and limbs) relative to other body parts and the amount of force applied.
receptor -
Any structure or molecule that when exposed to a specific stimulus, produces a response. Can bind with neurotransmitters and hormones or detect changes in temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, pressure, pH, and body position.
reciprocal inhibition -
The process of muscles on one side of the joint relaxing to accommodate contraction of the muscle on the other side of the joint. The stretch, or myotatic, reflex
resting membrane potential (RMP) -
The difference in the electrical potential between the interior and exterior of a cell in the resting state. Is negative, typically -70 to -80 mv in neurons and -90 in skeletal muscle cells.
saltatory conduction -
The conduction of an action potential the length of a myelinated axon from one node of Ranvier to the next, increasing the velocity of conduction.
sarcolemma -
The skeletal muscle cell membrane.
sensory neuron -
One of the three types of neurons (sensory, motor, interneurons). Transmit action potentials to the central nervous system.
size principle -
The principle that states that motor units are recruited in an orderly fashion based on the size of the motor neuron. Small motor neurons with lower thresholds of excitation are recruited prior to larger motor neurons with higher thresholds of excitation.
somatic motor neuron -
The motor neuron that innervates skeletal muscle cells and is responsible for initiating their contraction. Also known as an alpha motor neuron.
spatial summation -
Achieving an action potential by summing input from multiple presynaptic cells.
stretch reflex -
Also referred to as the myotatic reflex. A reflex that involves the muscle spindle and three motor responses: contraction of the agonist muscle, relaxation of the antagonist muscle, and activation of the gamma motor neuron.
sympathetic chain ganglia -
Ganglia of sympathetic motor neurons that lie adjacent to the spinal cord.
sympathetic nervous system -
One of the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system that controls smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands. The sympathetic nervous system stimulates fight or flight activities in the body. Organs that are innervated by sympathetic and parasympathetic motor neurons have dual innervation and antagonistic control.
synapse -
A junction between the terminal ends of one neuron and the dendritic end of another neuron.
synaptic cleft -
The space between the terminal knobs of the motor neuron and the post synaptic membrane.
temporal summation -
A high frequency of stimulation resulting in the summation of postsynaptic potentials and an action potential.
terminal ends -
The branching end of an axon.
terminal knobs -
Knobs at the terminal ends of neurons that release a neurotransmitter from vesicles.
tetanic contractions -
Contractions of skeletal muscle motor units at a high frequency of stimulation. Produce more force than single twitches of motor units.
threshold of excitation -
A membrane potential at which voltage-gated sodium channels are activated, leading to an influx of sodium ions into the cell. As more sodium ions enter the cell, the cell rapidly depolarizes, causing an action potential.
tonic control -
A type of neural control of an effector organ of the autonomic nervous system that has single innervation.
twitch -
A single contraction and relaxation of a muscle fiber or motor unit initiated from a single action potential.
ventral root -
One of two roots that emerge from the spinal cord. Location of motor neuron cell bodies in the spinal cord.
a-band (anisotropic band) -
The dark band within the sarcomere that extends from the end of one myosin to the other end of the same myosin.