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An overview of the key structures and functions of neurons, the fundamental units of the nervous system. It covers topics such as the node of ranvier, action potentials, the endoplasmic reticulum, radial glia, active transport, ribosomes, axons, schwann cells, concentration gradients, dendritic spines, sensory neurons, motor neurons, glial cells, neurotransmitters, and various synaptic processes. The document delves into the intricate mechanisms and components that enable neurons to receive, process, and transmit information throughout the body. By understanding these neuronal structures and their roles, researchers and students can gain insights into the complex workings of the nervous system and its implications for various physiological and neurological processes.
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Chapter 1 Flashcards
Myelin Sheath- Insulating material that covers vertebrate axon
Intrinsic Neuron: Cell whose axons and dendrites are all confined within a given structure
Presynaptic Terminal: Point where an axon releases chemicals.
Node of Ranvier: Interruptions in the myelin sheath of vertebrate axons
Action Potential: All-or-none message sent by axon
Endoplasmic Reticulum: Network of thin tubes that transport newly synthesized proteins to other locations
Radial Glia: Cell that guide neuron migration and axon and dendrite growth during embryological development
Active Transport: Protein-mediated process that expends energy to enable a molecule to cross a membrane
Ribosome: Site for cell synthesis of new protein molecules
Axon: thin fiber of constant diameter.
Afferent axon: structure that brings information onto a structure.
Propagation of the action potential : transmission of an action potential down an axon.
Active transport: Protein-mediated process that expends energy to enable a molecule to cross a membrane.
Schwann cell (purple and yellow in the middle): Glia cell in the pheriphery of the body that builds myelin sheaths.
Refractory Period: Time when the cell resists the production of further action potentials.
Concentration gradient: difference in distribution of ions across the neuron’s membrane
Dentritic Spine: Short outgrowth that increases the surface area available for synapses
Sensory neurons: Cell that is highly sensitive to a specific type of stimulation.
Absolute Refractory Period: Time when the membrane is unable to produce an action potential.
Neuron: cell that receives information and transmits it to other cells
Glia: Type of cell in the nervous system that does not conduct impulses over long distances.
Microglia (Thin snow flate): Cell that removes waste material and other microorganisms from the nervous system.
Electrical gradient: difference in electrical charges between the inside and outside of the cell.
Motor neuron: cell that receives excitation from other neurons and conducts impulses to a muscle.
Selective permeability: ability of some chemicals to pass more freely than others through a membrane.
Thiamine: B1 vitamin, necessary to use glucose
Astrocyte: Star-shape glia that synchronized the activity of the axons
Membrane: structure that separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment.
Nucleus: structure that contains the chromosomes.
Efferent axon: structure that carries information away from a structure.
Local anesthetic: drug that attaches to the sodium channels of the membrane, stopping action potentials.
Oligodendrocyte (shorizo): glia cell in the brain or spinal cord that builds myelin sheaths.
Threshold of excitation: minimum amount of membrane depolarization necessary to trigger an action potential.
Relative refractory period: time that requires a stronger stimulus to initiate an action potential.
Mitochondrion: structure that performs metabolic activities.
Chapter 2 flashcards
Transporter Protein (on the edge of the bone blue circle and purple): Special membrane protein that moves the neurotransmitter back into the presynaptic neuron.
Monoamine: Chemical formed by a change in certain amino acids.
MAO (monoamine oxidase): enzyme that converts catecholamines and serotonin into sypnaptically inactive chemicals
Presynaptic neuron: cell that delivers transmission to another cell.
Methylphenidate: stimulant drug prescribed for ADHD that increases stimulation of dopamine synapses.
Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP): graded depolarization
Spatial summation: combination of effects of two or more synapses onto a single cell.
Neurotransmitter: chemical released by neurons that affect other neurons.
Nicotine: stimulant drug that stimulates certain acetycholine receptors. Mono
Reflex - Automatic muscular response to stimuli
Spatial Summation- Combination of effects of two or more synapses onto a single cell
COMT- Enzyme that breaks down excess dopamine into inactive chemicals that cannot stimulate the dopamine receptors
Purine- Category of chemicals including adenosine and several of its derivatives
Metabotropic Effect- Sequence of metabolic reactions that produces slow and long-lasting effects at a nsynapse
Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential- temporary hyperpolarization of a membrane
Ionotropic Effect- Synaptic result that depends on the rapid opening of some kind of gate in the membrane
Acetylcholinesterase- Enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine into acetate and choline
Synaptic Cleft - space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons
Temporal Summation- Cumulative effect of repeated stimuli within a brief time
Exocytosis- Release of neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neuron into the synaptic cleft
2-AB- Chemical that binds to cannabinoid receptors
Gap Junction - direct contact of one neuron with another enabling electrical transmission
Catecholamine- Compounds that contain a catechol and an amine group
Amino acid: acid containing an amine group (NH2)
Nitric Oxide: Gas released by many small local neurons
Synapse: Specialized gap as a point of communication between two cells
Vesicle (inside the bone): tiny nearly spherical packet filled with neurotransmitters molecules.
Neuropeptide: chain of amino acids.
EPSPs (excitatory postsynaptic potentials) are brief depolarizations that move the neuron closer to threshold. They can occur in quick succession (temporal summation) or by activating multiple, nearby locations (spatial summation).
Protein like turkey contains a large amount of tyrosine. Tyrosine is the precursor to dopamine (as well as norepinephrine and epinephrine).
Neurotransmitters are made and packaged into vesicles so that they are ready for release. When activated by an influx of calcium, the vesicle fuses with the cell membrane to release the contents into the synapse (a form of exocytosis).
Insulin is made by the pancreas and is secreted following a meal. It helps to lower blood sugar by encouraging cells to take up the sugar from the bloodstream. In this case, Dedra must supplement her insulin levels because her pancreas isn't making enough.
c. reflex arc
a. slower than predicted speed of conduction
c. temporal summation
d. inhibitory postsynaptic potential
a. spontaneous firing
d. spatial summation
d. purine
a. gas
a. tryptophan
a. Exocytosis
d. glutamate
c. being released mostly from dendrites
b. serotonin
d. dopamine
a. GABA
b. Loewi
b. adrenal medulla
c. melatonin
b. Leptin
d. Problems with her visual processing
The striate cortex, which is another name for the visual cortex, can result in cortical blindness. Even though the eyes function properly, the brain area responsible for receiving and processing that information lies in the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex.
b. parietal; sulcus The texture of the cerebral cortex is like a mountain chain. The "hills" are the gyri, the "valleys" are the sulci. The central sulcus is a deep groove in the surface of the cortex.
a. PET scan A positron emission tomography (PET) scan allowed researchers to observe brain activity for the first time. Although PET scans do not provide details about structure, they can allow researchers to observe activity that is artificially shown as colors on the brain image (for example, red is high activity).
b. EEG
To figure out what might be triggering his seizures (and, more importantly, where they might be starting in the brain), Aaron's doctors will likely start with an electroencephalogram (EEG).
e. phrenology
Although phrenology is invalid for many reasons, Gall believed that he could infer qualities about a person based on the shape of the skull. We know that the skull does not match brain anatomy and that it can be thicker in some places than others.
The cat's brown spot is on the dorsal ("toward the back") side of the body.
The hypothalamus works together with both the rest of the brain and the endocrine system to help produce motivated behaviors like hunger. Due to the work of the hypothalamus, the body is able to stay in homeostatic balance. Mr. Smith will have to be monitored to make sure he is getting his water and food needs following his stroke.
a. basal ganglia Both Parkinson's and Huntington's disease are characterized as movement disorders. They each involve damage to the basal ganglia, which is made up of several structures including that caudate nucleus, the putamen, and the globus pallidus.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid similar to blood plasma that fills the ventricles of the brain. It is produced by the cells that line the walls of the fourth ventricle called the choroid plexus.
The cerebral cortex contains up to six distinct laminae (layers of cell bodies that are parallel to the surface of the cortex and separated from each other by layers of fibers). They vary in thickness and prominence from one part of the cortex to another.
The occipital lobe is the main target for visual information. It is also called the primary visual cortex as well as the striate cortex, because of its striped appearance in cross section.