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MCAT Biology > Nervous System > Flashcards

Nervous System Flashcards

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1
Q

specialized cells capable of transmitting electrical impulses and then translating them into electrical signals; use electrical and chemical forms of communication

A

neurons

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2
Q

occurs via ion exchange and the generation of membrane potentials down the length of the axon

A

electrical communication

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3
Q

occurs via neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic cell and their binding to the postsynaptic cell

A

chemical communication

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4
Q

part of neuron:

the cell body, location of nucleus and organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes

A

soma

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5
Q

part of neuron:

appendages emanating from soma, receive signals from other cells

A

dendrites

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6
Q

part of neuron:

where cell body transitions to axon, where action potentials are initiated

A

axon hillock

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7
Q

transmission of electrical impulses down axon

A

action potential

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8
Q

part of neuron:

long appendage down which action potential travels

A

axon

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9
Q

part of neuron:

end of axon from which neurotransmitters are released

A

nerve terminal/synaptic bouton

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10
Q

part of neuron:

exposed areas of myelinated axons that permit saltatory conduction

A

nodes of Ranvier

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11
Q

part of neuron:
consists of nerve terminal of presynaptic neuron, the membrane of the postsynaptic cell, and microscopic space between the two (synaptic cleft)

A

synapse

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12
Q

coats many axons, insulating substance that prevents signal loss; prevents dissipation of neural impulse and crossing of neural impulses from adjacent neurons

A

myelin

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13
Q

creates myelin in CNS

A

oligodendrocytes

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14
Q

creates myelin in PNS

A

Schwann cells

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15
Q

bundle of myelinated axons in PNS; may carry multiple types of information: sensory, motor, or both

A

nerve

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16
Q

group of cell bodies (of neurons within a nerve) in PNS

A

ganglia

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17
Q

bundle of myelinated axons in CNS; only carry one type of information

A

tracts

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18
Q

group of cell bodies (of neurons within a tract) in CNS

A

nuclei

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19
Q

other cells within the nervous system in addition to neurons

A

neuroglia/glial cells

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20
Q

neuroglia:
nourish neurons and form the blood-brain barrier, which controls the transmission of solutes from the bloodstream into nervous tissue

A

astrocytes

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21
Q

neuroglia:
line the ventricles of the brain and produce cerebrospinal fluid, which physically supports the brain and serves as a shock absorber

A

ependymal cells

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22
Q

neuroglia:

phagocytic cells that ingest and break down waste products and pathogens in the CNS

A

microglia

23
Q

net electric potential difference that exists across the cell membrane, created by movement of charged particles across membrane; for neurons: about -70 mV

A

resting membrane potential

24
Q

selective permeability of ____ and ____ ions is used to maintain resting potential

A

Na+ and K+

25
Q

pumps ___ sodium ions out of cell for every ___ potassium ions pumped in, helps maintain resting potential

A

Na+/K+ ATPase (3, 2)

26
Q

cause depolarization of neuron

A

excitatory signals

27
Q

cause hyperpolarization of neuron

A

inhibitory signals

28
Q

refers to integration of multiple signals near each other in time

A

temporal summation

29
Q

refers to addition of multiple signals near each other in space

A

spatial summation

30
Q

used to propagate signals down the axon

A

action potential

31
Q

caused when enough excitatory stimulation occurs and the cell is brought to the threshold voltage and the voltage-gated sodium channels open

A

depolarized

32
Q

strong force of neuron that causes sodium to flow into it; continues depolarizing neuron

A

electrochemical gradient

33
Q

about +35 mV, when sodium channels are inactivated and potassium channels open

A

peak of action potential

34
Q

caused when potassium channel opens, potassium flows out of neuron due to strong electrochemical gradient

A

repolarized

35
Q

occurs when potassium channels stay open long enough to over-shoot resting potential, then potassium channel closes

A

hyperpolarizes

36
Q

brings neuron back to resting potential and restores sodium and potassium gradients

A

Na+/K+ ATPase

37
Q

Period when axon is hyperpolarized

A

refractory period

38
Q

refractory period when cell is unable to fire another action potential

A

absolute refractory period

39
Q

refractory period when cell requires a larger than normal stimulus to fire an action potential

A

relative refractory period

40
Q

propagates down the length of the axons because the influx of sodium in one segment of axon brings the subsequent segment of the axon to threshold

A

impulse

41
Q

where neurotransmitters are released into synapse

A

nerve terminal

42
Q

opens when action potential arrives at nerve terminal

A

voltage-gated calcium channels

43
Q

causes fusion of vesicles filled with neurotransmitters with the presynaptic membrane, resulting in exocytosis of neurotransmitters into synaptic cleft

A

influx of calcium

44
Q

bind to receptors on post synaptic cell, may be ligand-gated ion channels or G-protein coupled receptors

A

neurotransmitters

45
Q

three ways neurotransmitter is cleared from postsynaptic receptor to stop propagation of signal:

A

1) neurotransmitter can enzymatically by broken down
2) neurotransmitter can be absorbed back into presynaptic cell by uptake channels
3) neurotransmitter can diffuse out of synaptic cleft

46
Q

can absorb neurotransmitters back into presynaptic cell

A

uptake channels

47
Q

consists of myelinated axons in CNS

A

white matter

48
Q

consists of unmyelinated cell bodies and dendrites in CNS

A

grey matter

49
Q

where white matter is deeper than grey matter

A

brain

50
Q

where grey matter is deeper than white matter

A

spinal cord

51
Q

use the ability of interneurons in spinal cord to relay information to the source of a stimulus while simultaneously routing it to the brain

A

reflex arcs

52
Q

the sensory (afferent, presynaptic) neuron fires directly onto the motor (efferent, postsynaptic) neuron

A

monosynaptic reflex arc

53
Q

the sensory neuron may fire onto a motor (efferent) neuron as well as interneurons that fire onto other motor (efferent) neurons

A

polysynaptic reflex arc

MCAT Biology (19 decks)

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