IB Psychology Basic Neuron Anatomy

Dendrites

location / what do they look like?

function(s)?

• On the big side of a neuron all the endings ( looks like tree branches )

• To receive chemical and electrical signals from other neurons in the brain and allows it to pass those messages to the rest of the neuron

Cell Body

location / what do they look like?

function(s)?

• the cell body is apart of the bigger ending and is all the chunk of the end

• does all the stuff a normal cell does — control and metabolic center of a neuron, containing the nucleus and producing the proteins and energy required for the cell to survive and function

• also called SOMA

Nucleus

location / what do they look like?

function(s)?

• in the center of the cell body on the big ending

• normal nucleolus activities — holds all the DNA & the master command center that directs the creation of proteins needed for thinking, learning, and behavior

Myelin Sheath

location / what do they look like?

function(s)?

• each of the little bubbles on the chair connecting to the axon terminals, they surround the Schwann’s cells

• Myelin acts as an electrical insulator & This leaping mechanism dramatically increases the speed of neural transmission.

  • like break pads — they wear down

  • Remyelination is the body’s natural biological process of rebuilding damaged myelin sheaths around nerve fibers

Axon

location / what do they look like?

function(s)?

• it’s the whole cable that attaches the cell body to the axon terminals

• acts like a cable with the information given to it.

Axon Terminals

location / what do they look like?

function(s)?

• its the tiny little fuzzy bit at the end of the neuron

• to release chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) to communicate with neighboring cells

Schwann’s cells

location / what do they look like?

function(s)?

• inside the sheath

• Schwann cells wrap around peripheral nerve fibers to create an insulating layer that speeds up electrical impulses, directly enabling fast reflexes and rapid behavioral responses.

  • They keep peripheral neurons healthy and help them regenerate after an injury

Node of Ranvier

location / what do they look like?

function(s)?

• are the microscopic, uninsulated gaps located at regular intervals along the myelinated axons

• enable saltatory conduction, a process in which electrical nerve impulses rapidly jump between gaps, drastically speeding signal transmission while conserving cellular energy.

Pre-frontal Cortex

Where?

Function?

• The anterior of the brain, behind your forehead

• responsible for: decision-making, self-control, working memory, goal setting, attention

• The groves in the brain are called jirus ( jira)

Parietal Cortex

where?

function?

• if you place your hand on the top of your head

• Receives and interprets body sensations like touch, pain, temperature, pressure, and joint position. gives you spacial awareness. gives you gross movents of your body parts

Corpus Callosum

where?

function?

• the deep part in-between the two hemispheres — its what’s connects them together

• acts as a communication bridge, combines visual and touch information from both halves of your body

Limbic system - Hypothalamus

where? function?

regulator of homeostatis

1. regulates eating and drinking behavior

2. regulates sexual behavior

3. Involved with stress responses

Limbic system - amygdala

where? function?

1.Monitors the environment for threats

2. Produces fear

3. Produces anger

4. Produces a sense of relief (when fearful stimulus is no longer perceived)

Limbic system - septum

where? function?

1. Inhibits sexual behavior

2. Inhibits aggressive behavior

Limbic system - Hippocampus

where? function?

1. Encodes new memories

Anterior

toward the front

Posterior

towards the back

Dorsal

towards the top

Ventral

towards the bottom

lateral

toward the outside

medial

toward the mid line

Cerebellum

where?

function?

• balence —— -mini brain

• Voluntary Movement Coordination: Fine-tunes and synchronizes muscle commands from the rest of the brain to make physical actions smooth and accurate.

• Motor Learning: Helps build "muscle memory"

• Cognitive and Emotional Roles: Contributes to language processing, attention, problem-solving, and emotional regulation

Spinal cord lower cord

where? function?

• Carries Signals: It transmits two-way electrical signals. Sensory messages (like touch, pain, and temperature) travel up from the body to the brain, and motor commands travel down from the brain to the muscles and organs.

• Controls Reflexes: It can process quick, automatic responses (reflexes) on its own

• Manages Movement & Autonomic Functions: Through 31 pairs of spinal nerves

Medulla Oblongata

where? function?

• BaseNerve Signaling Route: It acts as a major bridge that transmits sensory and motor signals between the spinal cord and higher brain regions of the brainstem

• Autonomic Control: It manages involuntary, life-sustaining processes such as heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing (ventilation).

• Reflex Centers:

• Nerve Signaling Route: It acts as a major bridge that transmits sensory and motor signals between the spinal cord and higher brain regions

• Controls cranial nerves such as the tongue, throat, neck, and internal organs.

pons

Where? functions?

• up-est part of brain cord above medula oblogagada

• Does signal relay

• Respiration control regulates breathing patterns

• Controls sleep and wake cycles ( key in REM )

• some cranial nerves

• Unconscious Processes: Manages basic autonomic and motor-coordination functions like swallowing, bladder control, and relaying pain or touch signals.

• behind your ears / first bulge from left to right

• helps with audidtdory processing ( hearing

• Language comprehension ( in left hem )

• memory formation ( long term v short)

• Visual and Object Recognition

• Emotion and Regulation: Includes the amygdala, which manages emotional responses, fear, and behavioral reactions

Pituitary gland

where? function?

• little lobe thing on the stem

• It is often called the master gland because it produces and releases vital hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress responses, while also controlling other endocrine glands (like the thyroid and adrenal glands).

prefrontal cortex

where? function ?

helps with

• Decision-Making & Judgment

• working memory

• Impulse Control & Emotional Regulation

• Planning & Goal-Setting

• focus and attention

• personality expression

BRAIN DEVELOPS BACK TO FRONT