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Biological Psychology
Biological Psychology by James W. Kalat 10th
52
Psychology
Undergraduate 2
09/13/2011

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Term
Neurons
Definition
nervous system cells that receive information and transmit it to other cells.
Term
Membrane(or plasma membrane)
Definition
Surface of a cell which separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment.
Term
Nucleus
Definition
Structure in an animal cell that contains the chromosomes.
Term
Mitochondrion(pl.:mitochondria)
Definition
The structure that performs metabolic activities, providing the energy that the cell requires for all other activities. Mitochondria require fuel and oxygen to function.
Term
Ribosomes
Definition
The sites at which the cell synthesizes new protein molecules.
Term
Endoplasmic reticulum
Definition
A network of thin tubes that transport newly synthesized proteins to other locations.
Term
Motor Neuron
Definition
cell body in spinal cord. Receives excitation from other neurons through its dendrites and conducts impulses along its axon to a muscle
Term
Sensory Neuron
Definition
specialized at one end to be sensitive to a particular type of sensation(light sound or touch). Cell body located on a little stalk off the main trunk
Term
Dendrites
Definition
branching fibers that get narrower near their ends.(comes from greek word meaning "tree") Dendrites surface lined with specialized synaptic receptors at which he dendrites receives information from other neurons
Term
Dendrite Spines
Definition
The short outgrowths that increase the surface area available for synapses.
Term
Cell Body / Soma (pl.:Somata)
Definition
Contains nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria, and other structures found in most cells.
Term
Myelin Sheath
Definition
An insulating material covering vertebrate axons
Term
Nodes of Ranvier
Definition
Interruptions in the myelin sheath
Term
Presynaptic Terminal
Definition
Swollen tips at end of axon, also known as "end bulb" or "bouton". The point from which the axon releases chemicals that cross through the junction between one neuron and the next
Term
Afferent axon
Definition
Brings information into a structure (A=admission)
Term
Efferent axon
Definition
carries information away from structure (E=Exit)
Term
Interneuron / intrinsic neuron
Definition
If a cell's dendrites and axon are entirely contained within a single structure
Term
Gila (neuroglia)
Definition
the other major components of the nervous system, do not transmit information over long distances like neurons do, although they do exchange chemicals with adjacent neurons. (derived from greek word meaning "glue")
Term
Astrocytes
Definition
star shaped glia that wrap around the presynaptic terminals of a group of functionally related axons. By taking up chemicals released by axons and then releasing them back to the axons, an astrocyte helps synchronize the activity of the axons, enabling them to send messages in waves.
Term
Microglia
Definition
very small cell, also remove waste material as well as viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms
Term
Oligodendrocytes
Definition
in brain and spinal cord specialized types of glia that build the myelin sheaths that surrond and insulate certain vertebrate axons
Term
Schwann cells
Definition
in periphery specialized types of glia that build the myelin sheaths that surrond and insulate certain vertebrate axons
Term
Radial glia
Definition
guide the migration of neurons and their axons and dendrites during embryonic development. When embryological development finishes, most radial glia differentiate into neurons
Term
Blood-brain barrier
Definition
most chemicals cannot cross form blood to brain. To minimize the risk of irreparable brain damage, the body builds a wall along the sides of the brain's blood vessels. This wall keeps out most viruses, bacteria, and harmful chemicals. Oxygen and Carbon can cross the barrier. glucose and certain amino acids cross the barrier with help from active transports
Term
Active Transport
Definition
a protein-mediated process that expends energy to pump chemicals from the blood into the brain. Chemicals include glucose, amino acid, purines, choline, a few vitamins, iron, and certain hormones.
Term
Glucose
Definition
a simple sugar that vertebrate neurons depend on
Term
Thiamine
Definition
a chemical that is necessary for the use of glucose. Prolonged thiamine deficiency can lead to death of neurons and a condition called "Korsakoff's syndrome", marked by severe memory impairments.
Term
Axon
Definition
Information sender of the neuron, conveying an impulse toward other neurons or an organ or muscle. Thin fiber of constant diameter, in most cases longer than dendrites. ( comes from greek word meaning "axis")
Term
Electrical Gradient
Definition
A difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of the cell
Term
Polarization
Definition
During absence of outside disturbance the membrane maintains a difference in electrical charge between two locations.
Term
Resting Potential
Definition
The neuron inside the membrane has a slightly negative electrical potential with respect to the outside, primarily because of negatively charged proteins inside the cell.
Term
Selectively Permeable
Definition
Some chemicals can pass through it more freely than others can.
Term
Sodium-Potassium pump
Definition
A protein complex, repeatedly transports three sodium ions out of the cell while drawing two potassium ions into it.
Term
Electrical gradient
Definition
Sodium is positively charged and the inside of the cell is negatively charge. Opposite electrical charges attract, so the electrical gradient tends to pull sodium into the cell.
Term
Concentration gradient
Definition
The difference in distribution of ions across the membrane.
Term
Hyperpolarization
Definition
Increased polarization. (i.e. from negatively charged to very negatively charged)
Term
Depolarize
Definition
Reduce polarization toward zero
Term
Threshold of Excitation
Definition
Stimulation beyond this point produces a massive depolarization of the membrane. When the potential reaches the threshold, the membrane opens its sodium channels.
Term
Action potential
Definition
A rapid depolarization and slight reversal of the usual polarization.
Term
Voltage-gated Channels
Definition
The membrane proteins that control sodium entry
Term
Local anesthetic
Definition
attach to the sodium channels of the membrane preventing sodium ions from entering
Term
all-or-none law
Definition
For a given neuron all action potentials are approximately equal in amplitude and velocity under normal circumstances. The amplitude and velocity of an action potential are independent of the intensity of the stimulus that initiated it.
Term
Refractory Period
Definition
Happens immediately after an action potential during which it resists the production of further action potentials.
Term
Absolute refractory period
Definition
First part of refractory period when the membrane cannot produce an action potential regardless of the stimulation
Term
Relative refractory period
Definition
A stronger than usual stimulation is necessary to initiate an action potential.
Term
Axon Hillock
Definition
A swelling where the axon exits the soma. In a motor neuron this is where action potential begins.
Term
Propagation of the action potential
Definition
Describes the transmission of an action potential down an axon.
Term
Myelin
Definition
An insulating material composed of fats and proteins.
Term
Myelinated axons
Definition
Axons covered with a myelin sheath
Term
Saltatory conduction
Definition
The jumping of action potentials from node to node. Provides rapid conduction of impulses and conserves energy.(from Latin word saltare, meaning to "jump")
Term
Graded potentials
Definition
Membrane potentials that vary in magnitude without following the all-or-none law.
Term
Local neuron
Definition
Neurons without axons exchange information only with their closest neighbors.
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