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17 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Neuron |
A type of cell that makes up the nervous system and supports, among other things, cognitive function. |
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Cell Body (soma) |
Parr of the neuron containing the nucleus and other organelles. |
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Dendrites |
Branching structures that carry information from other neurons. |
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Axon |
A branching structure that carries information to other neurons and transmits an action potential. |
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Synapse |
The small gap between neurons in which neurotransmitters are released, permitting signalling between neurons. |
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Action potential |
A sudden change (depolarisation and repolarization) in the electrical properties of the neuron membrane in an axon, which forms the basis for how neurons code information (in the form of the rate and sychrony of action potentials). Depolarisation - threshold reached - repolarization- hyperpolarized - resting potential |
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Neurotransmitters |
Chemical signals that are released by one neuron and affect the properties of other neurons. |
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Axon terminal or synaptic button |
End of the dendrites, where they connect to another dendrite |
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Membrane potential |
Difference in electrical charge between inside/outside of the neuron. |
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Ions |
Loose electrons present in the body (often kept appart by membranes). Present at the neuron membrane are : +sodium (Na+) outside -chloride (Cl-) outside Organic anions (various negatively charged ions) inside +Potassium (K+) inside |
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Resting potential |
At rest the charge in a neuron is -70mV. This is maintained by the movement of ions around the cell membrane. |
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Sodium potassium pump |
A transport protein that takes 3 positive sodium ions out of the cell and brings 2 potassium into the cell, the unequal movement causes a negative charge. The potassium can also move freely through diffusion so that the charge can stay balanced at -70mV at rest. |
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Myelin |
Fatty sheath that surrounds the cell and stops the action potential from degrading as it moves down the axon. |
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Nodes of Ranvier |
Gaps in the myelin, where the sodium channels are. The charge speeds up at these points, the jumping process is called saltatory condition. |
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Grey matter |
Matter consisting primarily of neuronal cell bodies. |
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White matter |
Tissue of the nervous system consisting primarily of axons and support cells. |
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Glia |
Support cells of the nervous system involved in tissue repair and in the formation of myelin (among other functions). |
