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Flashcards

Chapter 2 - Structure and Function of Cells of the Nervous System

Lorann Kearney Biopsychology English 87 cards

Cards in this deck (87)

  1. 1sensory neuronneuron that detects changes in the external or internal environment and sends information about these changes to the central nervous system
  2. 2motor neuronneuron located within the central nervous system that controls the contraction of a muscle or the secretion of a gland
  3. 3interneuronneuron located within the nervous system
  4. 4Central Nervous System (CNS)the brain and spinal cord
  5. 5Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)The part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord, including the nerves attached to the brain and spinal cord
  6. 6somacell body of a neuron, which contains the nucleus
  7. 7dendritea branched, treelike structure attached to the soma of a neuron that receives information from the terminal buttons of other neurons
  8. 8synapsejunction between the terminal button of an axon and the membrane of another neuron
  9. 9axonthe long, thin, cylindrical structure that conveys information from the soma of a neuron to its terminal buttons
  10. 10multipolar neurona neuron with one axon and many dendrites attached to its soma
  11. 11bipolar neurona neuron with one axon and one dendrite attached to its soma
  12. 12unipolar neurona neuron with one axon attached to its soma; the axon divides, with one branch receiving sensory information and the other sending the information into the central nervous system
  13. 13terminal buttonthe bud at the end of a branch of an axon; forms synapses with another neuron; sends information to that neuron
  14. 14neurotransmittera chemical that is released by a terminal button; has a excitatory or inhibitory effect on another neuron
  15. 15membranea structure consisting principally of lipid molecules that defines the outer boundaries of a cell and also constitutes many of the cell organelles
  16. 16cytoplasmthe viscous, semiliquid substance contained in the interior of a cell
  17. 17mitochondriaan organelle that is responsible for extracting energy for nutrients
  18. 18adenosine triphosphate (ATP)a molecule of prime importance to cellular energy metabolism; its breakdown liberates energy
  19. 19nucleusa structure in the central region of a cell, containing the chromosomes
  20. 20chromosomea strand of DNA, with associated proteins, found in the nucleus that carries genetic information
  21. 21deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)a long, complex macromolecule consisting of two interconnected helical strands; along with associated proteins, strands of DNA constitute the chromosome
  22. 22genethe functional unit of the chromosome, which directs synthesis of one or more proteins
  23. 23cytoskeletonsupport structure formed of microtubules and other protein fibers that are linked to each other and form a cohesive mass that gives a cell its shape
  24. 24enzymea molecule that controls a chemical reaction, combining two substances or breaking a substance into two parts
  25. 25axoplasmic transportan active process by which substances are propelled along microtubules that run the length of the axon
  26. 26microtubulea long strand of bundles of protein filaments arranged around a hollow core; part of the cytoskeleton and involved in transporting substances from place to place within the cell
  27. 27gliathe supporting cells of the central nervous system
  28. 28astrocytea glial cell that provides support for neurons of the central nervous system, provides nutrients and other substances, and regulates the chemical composition of the extracellular fluid
  29. 29phagocytosisthe process by which cells engulf and digest other cells or debris caused by cellular degeneration
  30. 30oligodendrocytea type of glial cell in the central nervous system that forms myelin cheaths
  31. 31myelin sheatha sheath that surrounds axons and insulates them, preventing messages from spreading between adjacent axons
  32. 32mode of Ranviera naked portion of a myelinated axon, between adjacent oligodendroglia or Schwann cells
  33. 33microgliathe smallest of glial cells which act as phagocytes and protect the brain from invading microorganisms
  34. 34Schwann cella cell in the peripheral nervous system that is wrapped around a myelinated axon, providing one segment of its myelin sheath
  35. 35blood-brain barriera semipermeable barrier between the blood and the brain produced by the cells in the walls of the brain's capillaries
  36. 36area postremaa region of the medulla where the blood-brain barrier is weak; poisons can be detected there and can initiate vomiting
  37. 37electrodea conductive medium that can be used to apply electrical stimulation or to record electrical potentials
  38. 38microelectrodea very fine electrode, generally used to record activity of individual neurons
  39. 39membrane potentialthe electrical charge across a cell membrane; the difference in electrical potential inside and outside the cell
  40. 40oscilloscopea laboratory instrument that is capable of displaying a graph of voltage as a function of time on the face of a cathode ray tube
  41. 41resting potentialthe membrane potential of a neuron when it is not being altered by excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials; approximately -70mV in the giant squid axon
  42. 42depolarizationreduction (towards zero) of the membrane potential of a cell from its normal resting potential
  43. 43hyperpolarizationan increase in the membrane potential of a cell, relative to the normal resting potential
  44. 44action potentialthe brief electrical impulse that provides the basis for conduction of information along an axon
  45. 45threshold of excitationthe value of the membrane potential that must be reached to produce an action potential
  46. 46diffusionmovement of molecules from regions of high concentration to regions of low concentration
  47. 47electrolytean aqueous solution of a material that ionizes - namely, a soluble acid, base, or salt
  48. 48iona charged molecule that can be positively (cat-) or negatively (an-) charged
  49. 49electrostatic pressurethe active force between atomic particles charged with opposite signs or the repulsive force between atomic particles charged with the same sign
  50. 50intracellular fluidthe fluid contained within cells
  51. 51extracellular fluidbody fluids located outside of cells
  52. 52sodium-potassium transporta protein found in the membrane of all cells that extrudes sodium ions from and transports potassium ions into the cell
  53. 53ion channela specialized protein molecule that permits specific ions to enter or leave cells
  54. 54voltage-dependent ion channelan ion channel that opens or closes according to the value of the membrane potential
  55. 55all-or-none lawthe principle that once an action potential is triggered in an axon, it is propagated, without decrement, to the end of the fiber
  56. 56rate lawthe principle that variations in the intensity of a stimulus or other information being transmitted in an axon are represented by variations in the rate at which that axon fires
  57. 57saltatory conductionconduction of action potentials by myelinated axons. the action potential appears to jump from one node of Ranvier to the next
  58. 58postsynaptic potentialalterations in the membrane potential of a postsynaptic neuron, produced by liberation of neurotransmitter at the synapse
  59. 59binding sitethe location on a receptor protein to which a ligand binds
  60. 60liganda chemical that binds with the binding site of a receptor
  61. 61dendritic spinea small bud on the surface of a dendrite, with which a terminal button of another neuron forms a synapse
  62. 62presynaptic membranethe membrane of a terminal button that lies adjacent to the postsynaptic membrane and through which the neurotransmitter is released
  63. 63postsynaptic membranethe cell membrane opposite the terminal button in a synapse; the membrane of the cell that receives the message
  64. 64synaptic cleftthe space between the presynaptic membrane and the postsynaptic membrane
  65. 65synaptic vescilea small, hollow, beadlike structure found in terminal buttons; contains molecules of a neurotransmitters
  66. 66release zonea region of the interior of the presynaptic membrane of a synapse to which synaptic vesciles attach and release their neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft
  67. 67postsynaptic receptora receptor molecule in the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse that contains a binding site for a neurotransmitter
  68. 68neurotransmitter-dependent ion channelan ion channel that opens when a molecule of a neurotransmitter binds with a postsynaptic receptor
  69. 69ionotropic receptora receptor that contains a binding site for a neurotransmitter and an ion channel that opens when a molecule of the neurotransmitter attaches to the binding site
  70. 70metabotropic receptora receptor that contains a binding site for a neurotransmitter that activates an enzyme that begins a series of events that opens an ion channel elsewhere in the cell's membrane when a molecule of the transmitter attaches to the binding site
  71. 71G proteina protein coupled to a metabotropic receptor that conveys messages to other molecules when a ligand binds with and activates the receptor
  72. 72second messengera chemical produced when a G protein activates an enzyme; carries a signal that results in the opening of the ion channel or causes other events to occur in the cell
  73. 73excitatory postsynaptic potention (EPSP)an excitatory depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse caused by the liberation of a neurotransmitter by the terminal button
  74. 74inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)an inhibitory hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane of a synapse caused by the liberation of a neurotransmitter by the terminal button
  75. 75reuptakethe reentry of a neurotransmitter just liberated by a terminal button back through its membrane, thus terminating the postsynaptic potential
  76. 76enzymatic deactivationthe destruction of a neurotransmitter by an enzyme after its release (Example: the destruction of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase
  77. 77acetylcholine (ACh)a neurotransmitter found in the brain, spinal cord, and parts of the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for muscular contraction
  78. 78acetylcholinestrase (AChE)The enzyme that destroys acetylcholine soon after it is liberated by the terminal buttons, thus terminating the postsynaptic potential
  79. 79neural integrationthe process by which inhibitory and excitatory postsynaptic potentials summate and control the rate of firing of a neuron
  80. 80autoreceptora receptor molecule located on a neuron that responds to the neurotransmitter released by that neuron
  81. 81presynaptic inhibitionthe action of a presynaptic terminal button in an axoaxonic synapse that reduces the amount of neurotransmitter released by the postsynaptic terminal button
  82. 82presynaptic facilitationthe action of a presynaptic terminal button in an axoaxonic synapse that increases the amount of neurotransmitter released by the postsynaptic terminal button
  83. 83neuromodulatora naturally secreted substance that acts like a neurotransmitter except that it is not restricted to the synaptic cleft but diffuses through the extracellular fluid
  84. 84peptidea chain of amino acids joined together by peptide bonds. Most neuromodulators, and some hormones, consist of these molecules
  85. 85hormonea chemical substance that is released by an endocrine gland and that has effects on target cells in other organs
  86. 86endocrine glanda gland that liberates its secretions into the extracellular fluid around capillaries and hence into the bloodstream
  87. 87target cellsthe type of cell that contains receptors for a particular hormone and is affected by the hormone

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Flashcards for Chapter 2 of Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience
Created by
Lorann Kearney
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