Term
|
Definition
| Portion of nervous system where most association occurs; in vertebrates, composed of brain and spinal cord |
|
|
Term
| Peripheral Nervous System |
|
Definition
| Consists of neurons connecting the CNS to the rest of the body. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Alpha motor neurons; large lower motor neurons of the brainstem/spinal cord |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Part of the PNS that acts as a control system, maintaining homeostasis in the body |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Involved in the ANS; becomes more active during times of stress, comprises fight-or-flight response |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Involved in the ANS, generally functions in opposition to the sympathetic nervous system. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The central structure of a neuron; contains the cell nucleus |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| GTP-Binding membrane proteins that couple many extracellular receptors to intracellular effector proteins |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A fatty layer surrounding the long axons of motor neurons in the PNS of vertebrates |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Gap formed at the point where 2 Schwann cells meet and where the axon is in direct contact with surrounded intracellular fluid |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Cerebral cortex; composed of nerve cell bodies and blood vessels |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A type of neural tissue in the brain/spinal cord composed primarily of myelin-covered axons |
|
|
Term
| Resting Membrane Potential |
|
Definition
| The charge difference (difference in electric potential) that exists across a neuron at rest (about 70 mV) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Membrane potentials that vary in magnitude |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Repetitive activation of the motor neurons resulting in maximum sustained contraction of a muscle |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Minimum amount of stimulus required for a nerve to fire (depolarize) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Transient, all-or-none reversal of the electric potential across a membrane; in neurons, initiates transmission of a nerve impulse |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Very fast form of nerve impulse conduction in which the impulses leap from node to node over insulated portions |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Junction between a neuron and another neurons or muscle cell; the 2 cells do not touch, the gap being bridged by neurotransmitter molecules |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Vesicle of a neurotransmitter produced by the axon terminal of a nerve |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Space between adjacent neurons |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Chemical released at the axon terminal of a neurons that travels across the synaptic cleft, binds a specific receptor on the far side, and, depending on the nature of the receptor, depolarizes or hyperpolarizes a 2nd neuron or a muscle/gland cell |
|
|
Term
| EPSP (Excitatory Postsynaptic potential) |
|
Definition
| Depolarization of the post-synaptic cell upon excitation |
|
|
Term
| IPSP (Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential) |
|
Definition
| Hyperpolarization of the postsynaptic membrane in response to a particular neurotransmitter |
|
|
Term
| GABA (Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid) |
|
Definition
| An amino acid that acts as a inhibitory neurotransmitter |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A learned behavior in which an animal exhibits a lessened response with repetition of a stimulus |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A network of structures in the brain involved in memory and emotions |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The test conducted by striking the Patellar tendons of the knee for reflex indications of a lesion |
|
|
