action potential

Neurons

Cells in the nervous system that use electrical and chemical signals to receive, process, and transmit information.

Action Potential

Short pulses of electrical activity that travel along neurons.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that carry information between neurons.

Stimulus

An aspect of an organism’s environment that is detectable by a neuron.

Nociceptors

Neurons that detect or transmit information about damaging stimuli or tissue damage.

Axon

Cable-like protrusion of the neuron through which the action potential travels down.

Dendrites

Tree-like set of extensions that receive stimuli.

Soma

Cell body that contains the nucleus.

Synapse

The junction at the end of a neuron's axon that allows communication with another neuron.

Membrane potential

The voltage difference between the inside and outside of the cell.

Resting Potential

The membrane potential of a neuron at rest.

Threshold potential

The membrane potential above which a resting neuron will generate an action potential.

Botulinum toxin

The deadliest neurotoxin that can cause paralysis.

Lidocaine

A local anesthetic that blocks pain sensation by interfering with action potentials in pain receptors and motor neurons.

Ions

Atoms or molecules with a net positive or negative charge.

Neurotoxins

Chemicals that can interfere with neuron functioning.

Na+ channels

Neurons have a higher concentration of Na+ outside the cell than inside.

K+ channels

Neurons have more K+ channels.

Depolarized

When a neuron becomes more positive compared to the resting potential.

Hyperpolarized

When a neuron becomes more negative compared to the resting potential.

Na+/K+ Ion pump

Helps maintain osmotic equilibrium and membrane potential in cells.

Transduction

Change in membrane potential in response to a stimulus.

Voltage-gated Ion channels

Channels that open when the membrane potential is high enough.