Neuronal Communication and Synapses

Vocabulary flashcards covering cellular anatomy of neurons, electrical and chemical signaling, and synaptic transmission mechanisms.

Action potentials

Electrical signals, also known as 'spikes', generated and propagated along the neuronal membrane through electrical forces and diffusion.

Polarized cells

Cells that feature one specialized portion for receiving inputs and another distinct portion for sending outputs.

Dendrites

The branching, tree-shaped parts of a neuron specialized for receiving inputs from other cells and passing them to the cell body.

Dendron

The Greek word meaning 'tree', from which the term 'dendrite' is derived.

Axon

The neuronal structure that carries propagating action potentials away from the cell body toward another neuron.

Synapse

The boundary or interface between two neurons, situated between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of another.

Electrical synapses

Fast cellular connections consisting of pores between cells that allow ions to pass through directly, coupling cells with a high degree of synchronicity.

Chemical synapses

Junctions where an action potential prompts the release of a chemical into a gap to communicate signals to a downstream neuron.

Synaptic cleft

The very small space between two neurons at a chemical synapse into which chemical signals are released.