Cell Communication and Feedback Mechanisms- combined copy

Flashcards covering key terms related to nerve impulses, insulin regulation, and feedback mechanisms.

Action Potential

A rapid change in membrane potential that occurs when a neuron is stimulated.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released.

Myelin Sheath

An insulating layer around the axon that speeds up nerve impulse transmission.

Saltatory Conduction

The process by which action potentials jump from node to node along myelinated axons.

Quorum Sensing

A form of cell-to-cell communication in bacteria to coordinate behavior based on population density.

Negative Feedback

A mechanism that counteracts a change, maintaining homeostasis by returning a system to its set point.

Positive Feedback Loop

A mechanism that amplifies responses in a system, moving it further from its initial state.

Insulin

A hormone that lowers blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose by cells.

Glucagon

A hormone that raises blood glucose levels by promoting the conversion of glycogen to glucose.

Hyperpolarization

An increase in a cell's membrane potential, making it more negative than the resting potential.