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AP Biology Neuron Flashcards

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5867104266dendritesBranchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.0
5867104267axonA threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.1
5867104268myelin sheathA layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.2
5867104269Schwann cellsSupporting cells of the peripheral nervous system responsible for the formation of myelin.3
5867104270depolarizationThe process during the action potential when sodium is rushing into the cell causing the interior to become more positive; voltage change that occurs when the difference in charge across a membrane decreases4
5867104271terminal branchBranched endings of an axon that transmit messages to other neurons5
5867104272nodes of ranvierGaps in the myelin sheath to which voltage-gated sodium channels are confined; Gaps in the myelin sheath of the axons of peripheral neruons. Action potentials can 'hump' from node to node, thus increasing the speed of conduction (saltatory conduction).6
5867104273cell bodyLargest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus and much of the cytoplasm7
5867104274membrane potentiala difference in electrical charge between the cytoplasm (negatively charged) and the extracellular fluid (positively charged)8
5867104275polarized state(resting potential) a neuron in its unstimulated state9
5867104276-70mVa neuron in is polarized state has a membrane potential of ________10
5867104277sodium-potassium pumpa carrier protein that uses ATP to actively transport sodium ions out of a cell and potassium ions into the cell, maintaining neuron polarization11
5867104278resting potentialin order for the nerve to fire, a stimulus must be strong enough to overcome the _________12
5867104279gated-ion channelA channel in the plasma membrane for one specific ion, such as sodium or calcium; in the terminal branch of a neuron, it is responsible for the release of neurotransmitter into the synapse13
5867104280sodium-ion channelwhen stimulated, the result is a decrease in polarization to about -60mV14
5867104281hyperpolarizationThe movement of the membrane potential of a cell away from rest potential in a more negative direction.15
5867104282action potentialA neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. The action potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane.16
5867104283calcium-gated channelsimportant for neurotransmitters17

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