Neurotransmission

neurons

nerve cells, responsible for communication within the body

dendrites

a component of a nerve cell that receives information from other nerve cells and transports this information to the cell body

soma

largest part of a neuron; it controls the metabolism and maintenance of the neuron

axon

the part of the neuron along which the electrochemical nerve impulse is transmitted

axon terminals

located at the end of the axon, ut transmits messages to the next neuron by secreting neurotransmitters

myelin

fatty substance that coats some axons and insulates them, protecting them from electrical interferece from other neurons; this increases the efficiency of transmission from nerve impulses

neurotransmitters

chemicals that help communication across nerve synapses

synapse

the connection between two neurons

synaptic transmission

the process of neurons sending information to each other via neurotransmitters

presynaptic neuron

a neuron that transmits information to another neuron

postsynaptic neuron

a neuron that recieves information from another neuron

excitatory synapses

cause the target cell to become excited and more likely to fire and cause an action potential

inhibitaory synapses

cause the target cell to become inhibited and less likely to fire and cause an action potential

action potential

a momentary change in the electrical potential of a cell, which allows a nerve cell to transmit a signal or impulse towards another nerve cell

glucamate

an exhitatory neurotransmitter in the brain involved in learning

GABA

an inhibitary neurotransmitter imbalance of GABA is implicated in severe anxiety disorders, also involved in arousal and sleep