Biopysch

Blood brain barrier

A mechanism that excludes chemicals from the vertebrate brain. If a virus invades a cell, then the mechanism within the cell will extrude the chemicals through the membrane for the immune system to find. The immune system will attack the virus particles and the cell it infects. This plan works easily if the infected cells were skin/blood, but the vertebrate brain cannot replace damaged neurons. The blood-brain barrier can remove toxic chemicals but also nutrients.

Oligodendrocytes

A type of glial cell that builds the myelin sheath around axons, provides support for proper axon functioning, and responds to neural activity by altering myelin, which can affect the timing of axon responses.

Radial cell

Guides the migration of neurons and their axons during embryonic development.

Thiamine

A B1 vitamin that is needed to use glucose. Thiamine definciency is common in alcoholism, leads to death of neurons, and leads to a condition called korsakoff syndrome: memory impairments.

Glucose

A simple sugar that the brain relies on. Glucose deficiency is not common unless you're starving. To use glucose, the body needs B1 vitamin/thiamine.

Microglia

Tiny cells that are part of the immune system. They remove waste/microorganisms. Too much pruning during early development can lead to developmental disorders. Loss of microglia can lead to seizures. Provides negative feedback as brakes for neural activity.

Mitochondria

Performs metabolic activities. Provides energy for the cells to use in activities. Not all mitochondria are the same; they inherit different genes separate from the nucleus. Mitochondria are inherited in the cytoplasm of the egg cell. You get your biological mom’s mitochondria and so on. The brain relies on mitochondria functioning. A decrease in mitochondrial function leads to depression, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s. Less activation could be caused by stress, genes, toxic chemicals, or an illness that produces inflammation.

Sensory neuron

A neuron that is highly sensitive to a specific type of stimulation.

Presynaptic terminal

Where the axon release it’s chemicals

Dendrite

A branching fiber from a neuron that receives information from other neurons.

Afferent cell

carries info to the structure

Efferent cell

Pushes info away from structure

Soma

Also known as the cell body. Contains the nucleus, mitochondria and ribosomes.

Axon

A thin fiber that conveys an impulse to neurons, organs and muscle.

Astrocyte

A glia cell that wraps around the dendrite and connect to related axons. Once it is between neurons it protects it from from chemicals. This is done by taking away ions and transmitters from axons and releasing them back. This enables the axons to send messages in waves generating great rythm. Astrocytes also diallate blood vessel bringing more nutrients into active brain areas. They are active partners with the neurons by repsonding to hormones as well.

Motor neuron

Recieves excitation through dendrites. Conducts impulse from axon to muscles.

Endoplasmic reticulum

Transports newly synthesized proteins to different locations.

Ribosomes

The site where proteins get synthesized. Some ribosomes float within the cell but some get attatched to the ER.

Nucleus

The structure that contains chromosomes. Chromosomes do not float freely in the cell. Dna the chemical that forms chromosomes does stay stable for long in water solution. Dna and key important chemicals end up getting supported by other molecules.

Membrane

The surface of the cell. Protects the inside of the cell from the outside environment. Most chemicals cannot pass the membrane but protein channels permit a controlled flow of important chemicals