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        | nerves cells which transmit nerve impulses |  | 
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        | The three types of neurons are: |  | Definition 
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        | All neurons are made up of |  | Definition 
 
        | a cell body, one axon and several dendrites |  | 
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        | The cell body of a neuron contains |  | Definition 
 
        | the nucleus and most of the cytoplasm |  | 
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        | control centre of the cell’s metabolism and contains ribosomes |  | 
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        | The axon is a single nerve fibre that |  | Definition 
 
        | carries nerve impulses away from the cell body to the next neuron |  | 
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        | The direction of a nerve impulse is always |  | Definition 
 
        | dendrites  cell body axon |  | 
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        | a myelin sheath which insulates it |  | 
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        | Gaps in the myelin sheath are called |  | Definition 
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        | The presence of the myelin sheath |  | Definition 
 
        | increases the speed impulses can be transmitted |  | 
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        | Myelination continues from |  | Definition 
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        | Diseases that destroy the myelin sheath include |  | Definition 
 
        | Polio, Multiple Sclerosis, Tay-Sachs disease |  | 
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        | physically support neurons and produce the myelin sheath |  | 
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        | a tiny gap between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another which contains sufficient neurotransmitter to continue the nerve impulse
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        | is the nerve cell before the synaptic cleft |  | 
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        | Neurons connect with other neurons, muscle fibres and endocrine glands |  | Definition 
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 | Definition 
 
        | are chemical messages relayed across synaptic clefts from neuron to neuron |  | 
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        | Examples of neurotransmitters are |  | Definition 
 
        | Acetylcholine and Norepinephrine |  | 
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        | Neurotranmitters are stored in |  | Definition 
 
        | vesicles before their release (pre-synaptic neuron) |  | 
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        | receptors on the nerve endings once they have diffused across the cleft |  | 
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        | Acetylcholine released between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle fibre |  | Definition 
 
        | binds to receptors that have an excitatory effect on the muscle, making it contract |  | 
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        | Acetylcholine released between a motor neuron and a heart muscle fibre |  | Definition 
 
        | binds to receptors which have an inhibitory effect, reducing rate and strength of the muscle contraction |  | 
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        | Neurotransmitters can be removed |  | Definition 
 
        | by enzyme degradation and re-uptake |  | 
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        | a series of weak stimuli trigger enough neurotransmitter to fire an impulse |  | 
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        | Converging neural pathways increase sensitivity to excitatory and inhibitory signals by |  | Definition 
 
        | impulses from several sources meeting at a common point |  | 
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        | Diverging neural pathways influence several neurons |  | Definition 
 
        | at the same time by branching out from a common point |  | 
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        | Reverberating pathway neurons later in the pathway |  | Definition 
 
        | synapse with earlier ones, sending the impulse back through the circuit |  | 
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        | Plasticity of response is |  | Definition 
 
        | the brain cells’ ability to become altered as a result of new environmental experiences |  | 
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        | new neural pathways are developed |  | 
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        | Endorphins are neurotransmitters that |  | Definition 
 
        | act as natural pain killers |  | 
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        | Endorphin production increases in response to |  | Definition 
 
        | severe injury, prolonged exercise, physical and emotional stress and certain food stuff |  | 
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        | Increased levels of endorphins may bring about |  | Definition 
 
        | feelings of euphoria, regulate appetite and release sex hormones |  | 
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        | feeling of pleasure and rewards particular behaviour in the reward pathway |  | 
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        | Neurotransmitter related disorders |  | Definition 
 
        | include Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases |  | 
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        | Neurotransmitter-related disorders can be treated by |  | Definition 
 
        | agonists, antagonists and inhibitors |  | 
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        | and stimulate receptors mimicking the neurotransmitter |  | 
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        | specific receptors blocking the action of the neurotransmitter |  | 
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        | inhibit the enzymes which degrade the neurotransmitters or inhibit re-uptake |  | 
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        | Alzheimer’s disease is treated using |  | Definition 
 
        | cholinesterase inhibitors |  | 
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        | Parkinson’s disease is treated by using |  | Definition 
 
        | L-dopa, agonists that mimic dopamine |  | 
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        | Recreational drugs affect the transmission of nerve impulses |  | Definition 
 
        | in the reward circuit of the brain. |  | 
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        | Drug tolerance is said to have built up when |  | Definition 
 
        | reaction to a drug has decreased intensity even though the drug’s concentration remains the same |  | 
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