AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Biology Nervous System Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
13137265423neurona specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.0
13137265424glial cellscells that support neurons (ex: Schwann cells)1
13137265425cell bodycontains nucleus of the neuron2
13137265426dendritereceive stimuli; highly branched extensions3
13137265427axonconduct and propagate impulses4
13137265428Schwann cellcreates the myelin sheath5
13137265429node of Ranviergap between myelin sheaths that expose the axon, help accelerate impulses6
13137265430sensory neuronpick up stimuli from the environment and send to the brain7
13137265431motor neuronsends impulses to muscles to create movement8
13137265432interneuronneurons in the CNS that communicate internally and connect sensory to motor neurons; are responsible for reflexes9
13137265433resting potentialmembrane potential of a neuron that is not firing, -70 mV10
13137265434sodium-potassium pumpprotein that uses active transport to move 3 Na out of the membrane and 2 K in, which resets the neuron to resting potential11
13137265435action potentialrapid change in the voltage between the membrane of a neuron in response to a stimulus12
13137265436thresholdthe voltage needed to open the voltage gated Na channels and start the unstoppable flow of Na into the cell, -55 mV13
13137265437depolarizationthe massive influx of Na causes the cell's voltage to become less negative, all the way up to 35 mV14
13137265438repolarizationNa channels close and K channels open, which allows K out of cell so the cell is more negative15
13137265439undershootbecause K channels are slow to close, the voltage reaches -80 mV, and causes the Na/K pump to reset the neuron16
13137265440refractory periodperiod where the neuron resets using the Na/K pump before a neuron can be fired again17
13137265441synapsetransmission of information is from one neuron to the next18
13137265442neurotransmittermolecule that neurons use in synaptic transmission19
13137265443synaptic vesiclehold the neurotransmitters in the presynaptic neuron20
13137265444postsynaptic receptorreceive neurotransmitters and open Na gated ion channels to start another action potential21
13137265445synaptic cleftspace between the pre and postsynaptic neurons22
13137265446myelin sheathinsulates the axon and speeds transmission of the impulse23
13137265447afferent pathwaysignal received from outside your nervous system and conducted toward it24
13137265448efferent pathwaycarry signals away from the central nervous system toward muscle cells or glandular cells25
13137265449dopamineneurotransmitter that controls the brain's reward and pleasure center26
13137265450serotoninneurotransmitter responsible for maintaining mood balance27
13137265451GABAneurotransmitter that inhibits nerve impulse from being transmitted28
13137265452ion-gated channelsproteins responsible for allowing sodium or potassium to diffuse into or out of the axon29
13137265453sodiumion responsible for depolarization30
13137265454potassiumion responsible for repolarization31
13137265455calciumion that signals vesicles to release neurotransmitters32
13141259667axon hillockthe last site in the soma where membrane potentials propagated from synaptic inputs are summated before being transmitted to the axon.33

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!