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Edexcel AS Psychology - Biological Psychology > Structure & Function of the Neuron > Flashcards

Structure & Function of the Neuron Flashcards

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1
Q

What does the nervous system consist of?

A

Neurons (nerve cells) & glia (glial cells).

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2
Q

What do glial cells do?

A

They carry out repairs, act as insulators, and remove waste products from the brain.

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3
Q

What is the role of glial cells in relation to neurons?

A

Glia surrounds neurons, protects them, supplies them with nutrients, and removes dead neurons.

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4
Q

At first, it wasn’t thought that…

A

… glial cells have a role in transmitting messages.

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5
Q

How do glial cells in the hippocampus have a role in transmission?

A

Because they have a role in releasing gliotransmitters, which have a role in synaptic transmission.

They also have a role in clearing neurotransmitters away in the synaptic gap.

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6
Q

What are gliotransmitters?

A

Chemicals released from glial cells that facilitate neuronal communication between neurons and other glial cells.

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7
Q

What forms the myelin sheath of myelinated neurons?

A

Glial cells, which wrap around the nerve fibres to form it.

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8
Q

What are the 3 types of neurons?

A

1 - motor neurons
2 - sensory neurons
3 - inter-neurons

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9
Q

What are motor neurons?

A

Neurons that receive messages from the CNS to generate movements.

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10
Q

What are sensory neurons?

A

Neurons that transmit messages about senses, such as sight & sound, from the sense organ to the brain and spinal column.

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11
Q

What are inter-neurons?

A

Neurons that take messages from neuron to neuron

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12
Q

What are dendrites?

A

Finger-like structures that surround a cell body & form a tree-like structure.

They receive synaptic impulses from axons.

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13
Q

What is an axon?

A

A thin fiber that extends from a neuron.

Electrical impulses from the neuron travel away from the axon to be received by other neurons.

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14
Q

Where does an axon end?

A

At an axon terminal.

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15
Q

The axon is where…

A

… the electrical signal from the cell body travels.

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16
Q

An axon terminal has more than one…

A

… telodendron (terminating branch).

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17
Q

What is at the end of each telodendron?

A

A terminal button.

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18
Q

What is the axon protected by?

A

The myelin sheath.

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19
Q

Which type of glial cells make up the myelin sheath of neurons in the peripheral nervous system?

A

Schwann cells.

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20
Q

Which type of glial cells make up the myelin sheath of neurons in the central nervous system?

A

Oligodendroglial cells.

21
Q

What are nodes of Ranvier?

A

Gaps in the myelin-sheath which speed up transmission.

22
Q

What is the role of the neuron?

A

To pass messages between neurons using neurotransmitters to enable behaviour, thinking & emotions to be transmitted.

23
Q

What do the electrical impulses travelling down the axon trigger?

A

They trigger the release of neurotransmitters from from the terminal at the end of the axon.

24
Q

What happens after the neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal?

A

They are then released into the synaptic gap.

25
Q

What happens after the neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic gap?

A

They are either picked up by receptors on the dendrites of another neuron, or inhibited.

26
Q

What is the process in the synaptic gap called?

A

Synaptic transmission.

27
Q

The axon terminal of one neuron reaches out to…

A

… the dendrites of another neuron.

28
Q

What is a synapse?

A

A gap between the terminal & the dendrites.

29
Q

What is the synaptic gap also known as?

A

The synaptic cleft.

30
Q

Location of the synaptic cleft?

A

Between 2 neurons.

31
Q

What is located at the dendrites?

A

Receptors of a certain shape, prepared to receive the neurotransmitter from the other neuron.

32
Q

What happens if the neurotransmitter fits the receptor?

A

The message is passed on.

33
Q

What happens if the neurotransmitter doesn’t fit the receptor?

A

The impulse is inhibited, and so the message is blocked.

34
Q

Receptor?

A

Receives neurotransmitters from other neurons.

35
Q

The neurotransmitter that isn’t used by the receptors is taken up again to be reused. What is this called?

A

Reuptake.

36
Q

What does reuptake do?

A

It regulates the amount of neurotransmitter in the synapse, which regulates how much message there is, and it also recycles the neurotransmitter.

37
Q

What is the neurotransmitter picked up by?

A

Transport proteins.

38
Q

Transport proteins for gamma-aminobutyric acid, norepinephrine, dopamine & serotonin are…

A

… very similar.

39
Q

What do the transporters do?

A

They enable the neurotransmitter to be absorbed into the presynaptic neuron..

40
Q

What is the presynaptic neuron?

A

The neuron that is sending the message & releasing the neurotransmitters.

41
Q

What is the postsynaptic neuron?

A

The neuron receiving the message.

42
Q

What is reuptake?

A

When the neurotransmitter is absorbed back into the presynaptic neuron.

43
Q

How do manufactured drugs mimic natural neurotransmitters?

A
  • more or less fit certain receptors
  • they are received like neurotransmitters
  • the message from them ‘works’
44
Q

What is an example of prescribed drugs that affect synaptic transmission?

A

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

45
Q

What are SSRIs for?

A

They are prescribed for depression and they enhance serotonin levels in the brain.

46
Q

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that…

A

… improves mood.

47
Q

How do SSRIs work?

A

They block the reuptake of serotonin, leaving more serotonin at the synapse to be taken up again by the receptors of other neurons, thus improving the name.

48
Q

4 SSRIs prescribed in the UK for depression?

A
  • Fluoxetine
  • Paroxetine
  • Citalopram
  • Fluvoxamine

Edexcel AS Psychology - Biological Psychology (39 decks)

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