Neurons and Action Potentials quiz Flashcards

The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).

Neurons transmit electrical and chemical signals throughout the body.

Glial cells support and protect neurons.

The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS includes all other nerves projecting from the spine and brain.

The axon transmits electrical signals from the cell body to the axon terminal.

A synapse is the connection between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrites of another neuron.

Neurotransmitters are chemical signals released across the synapse to bind to receptors on the dendrites of another neuron.

The sodium-potassium pump uses ATP to actively transport 3 sodium ions out of the cell and 2 potassium ions into the cell, helping to maintain the membrane potential.

An action potential is a transient shift in membrane potential that propagates an electrical signal along the axon.

Myelination, provided by glial cells, insulates the axon and speeds up the propagation of action potentials.

Nodes of Ranvier are gaps in the myelin sheath where ion channels are concentrated, allowing for saltatory conduction of action potentials.

Ligand-gated ion channels open in response to ligand binding, while voltage-gated ion channels open in response to changes in membrane potential.

The resting membrane potential is the baseline membrane potential of a neuron, typically negative, when the cell is not actively sending signals.

Calcium ions enter the axon terminal through voltage-gated calcium channels, triggering the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.

Sensory neurons transmit sensory information to the CNS, while motor neurons send signals from the CNS to effector organs like muscles and glands.