Neurons Flashcards
Function of dendrites
Receives messages from other cells
Function of terminal branches of axon
Form junctions with other cells
Function of myelin sheaf
Covers the axon of neurons and helps speed neural impulses
Function of Axon
Passes messages away from cell body to other neurons muscles or glands
Sensory neurons
Carry impulses from the sensory receptors to the CNS
LONG DENDRITES AND SHORT AXONS
Relay neurons
Found in the brain and spinal cord and allow sensory and motor neurons to communicate
Motor neurons
Responsible for directly or indirectly controlling muscles. They carry impulses from CNS to effector
SHORT DENDRITES AND LONG AXONS
Neurotransmitters
- allow transfer of signalling messages between brain cells
- located in axon terminal and stored within thin walled sacs called synaptic vesicles
Synaptic transmission
- Information passed through electrical impulses down the pre synaptic axon
- Once reached axon terminal, this stimulates release of neurotransmitters from vesicles
- Neurotransmitters then diffuse across the synapse and bind to receptors on post synaptic axon
- This stimulates release of electrical impulses to pass down post synaptic axon with same messages e
What is reuptake
Any neurotransmitter molecules that have not been absorbed by the receptors will be destroyed by enzymes in the synaptic gap or absorbed by the presenaptic neuron
What is the difference between excitatory NT and inhibitory NT
Excitory neurotransmitters binding make a neuron more likely to fire and inhibitory ones make it less likely to fire
What are inhibitory NT responsibile for
Calming the mind, inducting sleep