Question | Answer |
ACh | A neurotransmitter found in neurons that carries information across the synaptic cleft |
AchE | An enzyme that breaks down unused acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft |
Action Potential | A short-term change in the electrical potential on the surface of a cell in response to stimulation |
Adrenal Medulla | The inner portion of the adrenal glands that synthesizes, stores, and releases epinephrine and norepinephrine |
Adrenalin | Hormone secreted in fight or flight circumstances by the sympathetic nervous system |
All or none response | . . . |
Autonomic nervous system | Neurons that are not under conscious control comprosed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems |
axomembrane | Cell membrane of a neuron |
axon | A long process of a neuron, that carries efferent (outgoing) action potentials from the cell body towards target cells |
axoplasm | The cytoplasm of a neuron |
central nervous system | The brain, cranial nerves and spinal cord |
cerebellum | Concerned primarily with somatic motor function, the control of muscle tone and the maintenance of balance |
cerebrum | The portion of the brain (frontal lobes) where thought and higher function reside |
corpus callosum | Connection between the two cerebral hemispheres comprised of nerve fibers |
dendrite | One of the extensions of the cytoplasm of a neuron taking impulses to the cell body |
depolarization | A reduction in the difference of electrical potential that exists across the plasma membrane of a nerve or muscle cell. |
effector | A structure that responds to a neural stimulus |
excitatory | A synapse in which the nerve impulse in a presynaptic cell tend to increase the probability of the postsynaptic cell to fire an action potential |
neurotransmitter | Chemical messenger of the nervous system |
hypothalmus | A portion of the brain which lies beneath the thalamus and secretes substances which control metabolism by exerting an influence on pituitary gland function |
impulse | The movement of action potential along a nerve fiber in response to a stimulus |
inhibitory neurotransmitter | A neurotransmitter that acts to prevent a neuron from firing an action potential |
interneuron | Neuron of the central nervous system that relays impulses between sensory neuron and motor neuron |
medulla oblongata | Subdivision of the brainstem; houses important cardiac and respiratory regulatory centres |
meninges | The three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord |
motor neuron | Neurons which activate muscle cells. These neurons transmits messages from the brain through the spinal cord. |
myelin sheath | An insulating layer surrounding neurons, that dramatically increases the speed of conduction |