Neuroscience 2 Flashcards
What is the Cell Theory?
Schwann and Schleiden concluded all organic beings are composed of individual cells which are independent of one another.
What did Camillo Golgi contribute to neuroscience?
He developed a way to stain a neuron, allowing for observation and study.
What is Cajal’s Neuron Doctrine?
It states that each neuron is a separate cell and a fundamental building block of the nervous system.
What is dynamic polarization of neurons?
It is the theory that information flows only one way through a neuron, from dendrites to axons.
What are the four types of molecules in cells?
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Amino Acids, and Nucleic Acids.
What are carbohydrates?
Simple sugars that range from small molecules like table sugar to chains of small sugar molecules in glycogen.
What role do lipids play in cells?
They are integral to cell membranes, forming a bilayer that is not water soluble.
What are amino acids?
Compounds that combine to form proteins and can act as neurotransmitters.
What are nucleic acids?
Large molecular chains in the cell’s nucleus, including DNA and RNA.
What is the cell membrane?
It is a bilayer of lipid molecules that forms a barrier between intracellular and extracellular environments.
What is the function of channels in the cell membrane?
They permit chemicals to pass through the cell and facilitate communication with the outside.
What are neurons?
Cells that rapidly transfer or communicate information throughout the body via an electrochemical process.
What are glial cells?
Support cells that assist and facilitate the function of neurons.
What are astrocytes?
Glial cells that control the ionic environment of neuronal cells.
What is the role of oligodendroglia?
They coat axons with myelin in the CNS.
What do Schwann cells do?
They coat axons with myelin in the PNS.
What is the function of microglia?
They assist in repair after brain or spinal cord damage.
What are satellite cells?
They surround and nourish neurons in the PNS.
What is the structure of a neuron?
It consists of a soma, dendrites, and axons.
How are neurons classified by number of neurites?
They can be unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar.
What is the synapse?
The point of connection between a neuron and another neuron, muscle, or gland.
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemical messengers that transmit messages across the synaptic cleft.
What is acetylcholine?
A neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction and cognitive functions.
What is glutamate?
The major excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, associated with learning and memory.
What is GABA?
The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS, controlling information flow.
What is dopamine?
A neurotransmitter involved in motor control, emotions, and rewards.
What is epinephrine?
A neurotransmitter that helps regulate heart rate and is involved in the fight or flight response.
What is norepinephrine?
A neurotransmitter involved in attention, mood, and the sleep-wake cycle.
What is serotonin?
A neurotransmitter with excitatory and inhibitory effects, associated with mood and sleep.
