The Organization Of The Nervous System

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Neuron

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Cell specialized for the conduction and transmission of electrical signals in the nervous system.

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Glial cells

Back 2

The support cells associated with neurons (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia in the central nervous system; Schwann cells in peripheral nerves; and satellite cells in ganglia).

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synapse

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Specialized apposition between a neuron and its target cell for transmission of information by release and reception of a chemical transmitter agent.

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Synaptic Terminal

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A presynaptic (axonal) ending.

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Axon

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The neuronal process that carries the action potential from the nerve cell body to a target.

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Action Potential

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The electrical signal conducted along axons (or muscle fibers) by which information is conveyed from one place to another in the nervous system.

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Synaptic Transmission

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The process by which infomation encoded by action potentials is passed on at synaptic contacts to the next cell in the pathway.

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Chemical Synapse

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Synapse that transmit information via the secretion of chemical signals (neurotransmitters).

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Synaptic Vesicles

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Spherical, membrane-bound organellesin presynaptic terminals that store neurotransmitters.

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Neurotransmitter

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Substance realeased by synaptic terminals for the purpose of transmitting information from one nerve cell to another.

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Neurotransmitter Receptor

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A molecule specialized to bind any one of a large number of chemical signals, preeminently neurotransmitters.

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Astrocytes

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One of the three major classes of glial cells found in the central nervous system; important in regulating the ionic milieu of nerve cells and, in some cases, transmitter reuptake.

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Oligodendrocytes

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One of three classes of central neuroglial cells; their major function is to elaborate myelin.

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Myelin

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The multilaminated wrapping around many axons formed by oligodendrocytes or Schwann cells.

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Schwann Cells

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Neuroglial cells in the peripheral nervous system that elaborate myelin (named after the 19th century anatomist and physiologist Theodor Schwann).

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Microglial cells

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One of the three main types of central nervous system glia; concerned primarily with repairing damage following neuornal injury.

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Neuropil

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The dense tangle of axonal and dendritic branches, and the synapses between them, that lies between neuronal cell bodies in the gray matter of the brain and spinal cord.

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Afferent Neurons

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An action that conducts action potentials from the periphery toward the central nervous system.

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Efferent Neurons

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An axon that conducts information away from the central nervous system.

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Interneuron

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Technically, a neuron in the pathway between primary sensory and primary effector neurons; more generally, a neuron that branches locally to innervate other neurons. Also, known as a local circuit neuron.