Neurons and Their Structure
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Neurons and Their Structure

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Questions and Answers

What is a Neuron?

Neural cell; basic building block of the nervous system made up of specific structures: dendrites, cell body, axon, and terminal buttons.

What are Glial Cells?

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.

What is the Cell Body (Soma)?

Contains the nucleus and other parts of the cell needed to sustain its life.

What is an Axon?

<p>Wirelike structure ending in the terminal buttons that extend from the cell body.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Myelin Sheath?

<p>Fatty covering around the axon of some neurons that speeds neural impulses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Terminal Buttons?

<p>Branched end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a Synapse?

<p>Space between the terminal button at the tip of the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of the next neuron.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Dendrites?

<p>Root-like parts of the cell that stretch out from the cell body that receive incoming information (neurotransmitters).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Receptor Sites?

<p>Areas of dendrite to receive a specific neurotransmitter.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Resting Potential?

<p>The negatively charged state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Action Potential?

<p>A neural impulse; brief electric charge that spreads down the length of a neuron after the threshold is achieved.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Neural Firing?

<p>Electrochemical process where electricity travels within the cell and chemicals travel between cells in the synapse.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the All-or-None Principle?

<p>Neuron either fires completely or it doesn't fire at all.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a Threshold?

<p>Level of stimulation required to 'fire' (trigger) a neuron.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Refractory Period?

<p>A brief resting pause that occurs after a neuron has fired.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Reuptake?

<p>A neurotransmitter's reabsorption by the sending neuron.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Neurotransmitters?

<p>Chemicals contained in terminal buttons that enable neurons to communicate by crossing the synaptic gaps.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Excitatory Neurotransmitters?

<p>Chemicals released that excite the next neuron into firing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Inhibitory Neurotransmitters?

<p>Chemicals released that inhibit the next neuron from firing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Acetylcholine?

<p>Neurotransmitter associated with motor movement, learning, and memory.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Dopamine?

<p>Neurotransmitter associated with motor movement, learning, alertness, and emotion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are Endorphins?

<p>Neurotransmitter associated with pain control and the perception of pain or pleasure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Serotonin?

<p>Neurotransmitter associated with mood control, hunger, sleep, and arousal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Norepinephrine?

<p>Neurotransmitter that helps control alertness and arousal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is GABA?

<p>A major inhibitory neurotransmitter.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Glutamate?

<p>A major excitatory neurotransmitter.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an Agonist?

<p>A molecule that stimulates a response by binding to a receptor site.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an Antagonist?

<p>A molecule that inhibits or blocks a response by binding to a receptor site.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Neurons and Their Structure

  • Neurons serve as the fundamental units of the nervous system, composed of dendrites, cell body (soma), axon, and terminal buttons.
  • Dendrites are extensions that receive signals from other neurons, enabling synaptic connections.
  • The cell body, containing the nucleus, sustains cell function.
  • Axons are long, wirelike structures transmitting signals away from the cell body, ending in terminal buttons.
  • Myelin sheath is a fatty layer around axons that accelerates neural signal transmission.

Supporting Cells

  • Glial cells support, nourish, and protect neurons in the nervous system, playing vital roles in maintaining overall brain health.

Neurotransmission

  • A synapse is the gap between terminal buttons of one neuron and dendrites of another, where neurotransmitters are released to facilitate communication.
  • Receptor sites on dendrites are specialized for specific neurotransmitters, influencing neuronal firing.

Neural Processes

  • Resting potential refers to the neuron's negatively charged state when inactive, while action potential is a brief electrical charge that propagates along the axon upon reaching the threshold.
  • Neural firing is an electrochemical process involving electrical signals within neurons and chemical neurotransmitters between them.

Principles of Neural Activity

  • The all-or-none principle states that a neuron either fully fires or does not fire at all when the threshold is met.
  • After firing, neurons enter a refractory period where they cannot immediately fire again until they return to resting potential.
  • Reuptake is the process where a neurotransmitter is reabsorbed by the original neuron after signal transmission.

Types of Neurotransmitters

  • Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that cross synaptic gaps, binding to receptor sites on the next neuron to influence neural impulses.
  • Excitatory neurotransmitters stimulate the next neuron to fire, while inhibitory neurotransmitters prevent it from firing.

Specific Neurotransmitters and Their Functions

  • Acetylcholine: Involved in motor movement, learning, and memory; its deficiency links to Alzheimer's disease.
  • Dopamine: Regulates motor movement, alertness, and emotions; imbalances affect conditions like Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.
  • Endorphins: Act as natural painkillers and influence pleasure; connected to addiction mechanisms.
  • Serotonin: Regulates mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal; low levels are associated with depression.
  • Norepinephrine: Plays a role in alertness and arousal, affecting mood; part of the body's stress response.
  • GABA: Major inhibitory neurotransmitter; deficiencies can lead to seizures and insomnia.
  • Glutamate: Principal excitatory neurotransmitter; excess can lead to overstimulation, migraines, or seizures.

Drug Interactions with Neurotransmitters

  • Agonists: Molecules that enhance or mimic the effect of neurotransmitters, promoting a physiological response.
  • Antagonists: Molecules that inhibit or block neurotransmitter action, diminishing or preventing a physiological response.

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of neurons, their structure, and functions in the nervous system. This quiz covers the roles of dendrites, axons, glial cells, and neurotransmission, providing insight into the communication processes between neurons.

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