Nervous System Flashcards
Nerve net
Simple nervous system in invertebrates, diffuse mesh of simple branching nerve cells
Ganglia
Distinct Cluster of cell bodies of neurons
Neurons
Cells that make up nerves
Neuroglia
Nervous tissue cells that structurally and metabolically support neurons, can reproduce
Cell body
Nucleus and cytoplasmic components of cell
Dendrites
Signal input, slender extension from cell body of neuron
Axon
Action potentials, conductors, endings are transmitters
Sensory neurons
Detects stimulus and relays info about it
Motor (effector) neurons
Relays commands from brain or spinal cord to muscle and gland cells
Interneurons
Neuron of brain or spinal cord
Polarization
Sodium on outside, potassium on inside, signals transferred from neuron to neuron through action potential
Threshold
Minimum amount of change in resting membrane potential that will trigger an action potential
Action potential
Abrupt, brief reversal of resting membrane potential of neuron
Hyper polarization
Increase in charge difference of action potential
Sodium potassium pump
positive Sodium outside, negative potassium inside
Refractory period
Interval after an action potential where a patch of neural membrane in insensitive to stimulation
Axon bulb
Endings of axons, transmit signals
Neurotransmitter
Signaling molecules secreted by neurons, acts on cell next to it and then is degraded or recycled