Neurons & Neural Transmission

Neuroscience

the development, structure and function, chemistry and pathology of the nervous system

Glia

(non-neuronal) cells hat provide specialized services to neurons and the nervous system

Neuron

the basic unit of the nervous system, specialized to transmit information throughout the body using electrical and chemical signals, allowing functions like thinking, talking, and moving

Dendrites

receive messages from other cells

Axon

passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

Myelin

a substance of proteins and fats that surround an axon, insulating it and supporting the flow of the action potential

Oligodendroglia

produce and maintain the myelin sheaths in the CNS (Each process provides the myelin of one internode of one axon)

Schwann Cells

they produce and form the myelin of peripheral nerves (Each Schwann cell forms one internode of myelination of only one axon)

Nodes of Ranvier

gaps in the myelin where sodium channels can open and continuously generate more action potentials

Depolarization

decreases the membrane potential from its resting state, which makes it more positive (makes the cell be able to move)

Hyperpolarization

increases the membrane potential from it’s resting state, which makes it negative (makes the cell unable to move)

Ligand-gated channels

allow the passage of ions, as a result of a neurotransmitter

Voltage-gated channels

allow the passage of ions when the membrane potential reaches a specific voltage

 Leak (non-gated) channels

are always open and allow a small amount of diffusion of ions across the membranes

 Modality-gated channels

allow the passage of ions that follow things like a mechanical force or temperature change

Anterograde transport

microtubules that carry NTs towards the terminal

Retrograde transport

microtubules that carry NT away from the terminal

Reuptake

is the process where the pre-synaptic neuron reabsorbs its own neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft after transmitting a signal.