Neurones

Question 1

What is a neuron?

Answer 1

Nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals

Question 2

Structure of a neuron- what is the function of the Soma?

Answer 2

The control centre of the neuron and includes the nucleus

Question 3

Structure of a neuron- what is the function of the nucleus?

Answer 3

Contains the genetic material of the cell

Question 4

Structure of a neuron- what is the function of the dendrites?

Answer 4

Receiving signals from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells. They are normally connected to the cell body

Question 5

Structure of a neuron- what is the function of an axon?

Answer 5

Carrying nerve impulses, known as action potential, the impulse travels down the axon to the synapse

Question 6

Structure of a neuron- what is the function of the myelin sheath?

Answer 6

Insulating the axon so that the electrical impulses travel faster along the axon

Question 7

Structure of a neuron- what is the function of the axon terminals?

Answer 7

Connects the neuron to other neurons via synaptic transmission

Question 8

What is the function of a motor neuron?

Answer 8

To carry impulses from the CNS to other areas of the body and control muscles

Question 9

What is the function of a relay neuron?

Answer 9

To connect sensory and motor neurons

Question 10

What is the function of a sensory neuron?

Answer 10

To transmit nerve impulses from sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Question 11

What is synaptic transmission?

Answer 11

The process where neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the synapse that separates them

Question 12

What is a neurotransmitter?

Answer 12

Brain chemicals released from synaptic vesicles that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another. Can be divided into excitatory and inhibitory

Question 13

What is the function of excitatory neurotransmitters?

Include an example

Answer 13

They increase the positive charge of the post synaptic neuron, making it more likely to fire and pass on the electrical impulse

An example of this is dopamine

Question 14

What is the function of inhibitory neurotransmitters?

Include an example

Answer 14

Increase the negative charge of the post synaptic neuron, making it less likely to fire or pass on the electrical impulse

An example of this is serotonin

Question 15

What is summation?

Answer 15

The net effect of the EPSP’s and IPSP’s- adding up the positive and negative charges