characteristics of neurons and their impulses

anaxonic nueron

can communicate in multiple directions with close neurons

has no axon

afferent & efferent

bipolar neuron

one dendrite and one axon that travels in one directions direction

4 special senses like: smell, sight, hearing, taste, equilibrium

afferent

unipolar neuron

one dendrite, can have 1 axon on one side or one on both sides

4 general senses like temp, pressure, vibration, pain, chemical

afferent

multi polar neuron

cell body has dendrites and one axon

motor neuron

efferent

sensory/afferent nuerons

carry info to CNS

ex. skin receptors for touch

motor/efferent neurons

carry motor commands from CNS to muscles/glands

ex. motor neurons controlling muscles

interneurons/ efferent & afferent

connect sensory and motor neurons in the cns

ex. neurons in the spinal cord for reflexes

proprioceptors

detect body position and movement

nociceptors

detect pain and injury

dendrites

receive signal

cell body

process the signal

axon hillock

generates an action potential

action potential

travels down the axon

nerve impulse

the electrical signal that travels along the neuron

Propagation Speed of Myelinated Axons

• Fast: Up to 120 m/s (268 mph), due to the insulating effect of myelin.

synapse

The junction where one neuron communicates with another or a cell

neuromuscular synapse

synapse between a neuron and a muscle (triggers muscle contraction)

neuroglandular synapse

synapse between a neuron and a gland (stimulates hormone release).

presynaptic neuron

the neuron that sends signals to the postsynaptic neuron across the synapse

synaptic cleft

space between two nuerons

postsynaptic neuron

recieves the signal

ganglia

clusters on nueron cell bodies in the PNS

nerves

bundles of axons in the PNS

tracts

bundles of axons in the in the CNS

neural cortex

other layer of the brain/ gray matter

nuclei

Clusters of neuron cell bodies in the CNS

centers

specific regions of the CNS that control particular functions

columns

groups of tracts in the spinal chord