Lesson 2: Neural Control Flashcards

Neurotransmitters and Neurons

• Acetylcholine (ACh): A crucial neurotransmitter involved in somatic and autonomic nervous system signaling.
• Action Potential: A rapid electrical signal in excitable cells, crucial for communication and intracellular processes in muscle cells.
• Afferent Neuron: Specialized sensory neurons responsible for transmitting sensory information to the central nervous system.
• All-or-None Principle: Once a neuron's action potential threshold is reached, it fully propagates, affecting muscle twitches similarly.

Adrenal Gland Structure and Hormones

• Adrenal Gland: Also known as suprarenal glands, these endocrine structures produce hormones like cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.
• Adrenal Cortex: The outer layer, responsible for synthesizing steroid hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone.
• Adrenal Medulla: The inner layer that produces catecholamines, primarily epinephrine and norepinephrine, crucial for fight-or-flight responses.
• Adrenaline: Another name for epinephrine, mainly secreted by the adrenal medulla.

Types of Receptors and Control Mechanisms

• Alpha Receptor: An adrenergic receptor that induces vasoconstriction when activated by epinephrine or norepinephrine.
• Beta Receptor: An adrenergic receptor that can have varying effects on different tissues depending on subtype (Beta1, Beta2, Beta3).
• Cholinergic Receptor: Binds acetylcholine, including nicotinic and muscarinic types that mediate diverse physiological responses.
• Antagonistic Control: In autonomic nervous system regulation, organs receive both excitatory and inhibitory signals from sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

Muscle Physiology and Morphology

• Alpha Motor Neuron: A motor neuron innervating skeletal muscles, crucial for voluntary movement.
• Atrophy: Reduction in muscle cross-sectional area, typically due to inactivity or denervation.
• Contraction: Occurs through actin and myosin filament interaction, leading to muscle fiber tension.

Nervous System Basics

• Central Nervous System (CNS): Comprises the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing sensory input and coordinating responses.
• Dendrites: Neuron extensions that receive signals from other cells and convey them to the cell body.
• Axon: A long projection from the neuron that transmits action potentials away from the cell body.
• Axon Hillock: The area where action potentials initiate, integrating synaptic inputs from the neuron’s dendrites.

Cellular Components and Function

• Cytoplasm: Consists of cytosol and organelles, serving as the site for major cellular activities like glycolysis.
• Adrenergic: Pertaining to the effects caused by catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine).
• Cholinergic: Relates to the actions of acetylcholine within the nervous system.

Test your knowledge on neural control with these flashcards. This quiz covers key terms such as acetylcholine and action potentials, essential for understanding the nervous system's operation. Perfect for neuroscience or biology students!