-
a primary neurotransmitter that transmits impulses across the synaptic cleft
acetylcholine
-
a rapid and substantial depolarization of the membrane of a neuron or muscle cell that is conducted through the cell
action potential
-
the sensory division of the peripheral nervous system
afferent division
-
a part of the neuron, between the cell body and the axon, that controls traffic down the axon through summation of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials
axon hillock
-
one of numerous branched endings of an axon - terminal fibril
axon terminal
-
system consisting of the brain and spinal cord
central nervous system (CNS)
-
a decrease in the electrical potential across a membrane, as when the inside of a neuron becomes less negative relative to the outside.
depolarization
-
the motor division of the peripheral nervous system
efferent division
-
branches coming off the ends of the axons leading to the axon terminals
end branches
-
a depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane caused by an excitatory impulse
excitatory post synaptic potential (EPSP)
-
a sensory receptor in a muscle tendon that monitors tension
Golgi tendon organ
-
a localized change (depolarization or hyperpolarization) in the membrane potential
graded potential
-
an increase in the electrical potential across a membrane
hyperpolarization
-
a hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane caused by an inhibitory impulse
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
-
efferent division
motor division
-
an involuntary motor response to a given stimulus
motor reflex
-
a sensory receptor located in the muscle that senses how much the muscle is stretched
muscle spindle
-
the outer covering of a myhelinated nerve fiber, formed by a fatlike substance called myelin
myelin sheath
-
the electrical signal conducted along a neuron, which can be transmitted to another neuron or an end organ such as a group of muscle fibers
nerve impulse
-
the site at which a motor neuron communicates with a muscle fiber
neuromuscular junction
-
a specialized cell in the nervous system responsible for generating and transmitting nerve impulses
neuron
-
a chemical used for communication between a neuron and another cell
neurotransmitter
-
a catecholamine released from the adrenal medulla tht, along with epinephrine, prepares the body for a fight-or-flight response. It is also a neurotransmitter
norepinephrine
-
that section of the nervous system through which motor nerve impulses are transmitted from the brain and spinal cord to the periphery and sensory nerve impulses are transmitted from the periphery to the brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
-
the potential difference between the electrical charges inside a cell and outside the cell, caused by a separation of charges across the membrane
resting membrane potential (RMP)
-
the means of rapid nerve impules conduction along myelinated neurons
saltatory conduction
-
the process by which the sensory and motor systems communicate and coordinate with each other
sensory motor integration
-
an enzyme called Na+=K+-ATPase, which maintains the resting membrane potential in disequilibrium at -70mV
sodium-potassium pump
-
the summing of all individual changes in a neuron's membrane potential
summation
-
the junctions between two neurons
synapse
-
a minimum amount of stimulus needed to elicit a response. Also, the minimum depolarization required to produce an action potential in neurons
threshold
|
|