Biological Psychology: Central Nervous System and Neurones

Flashcards covering the structure and function of neurones, saltatory conduction, and types of neurones.

What is the function of the nucleus within a neurone's cell body?

Contains the genetic material of the cell.

What is the role of dendrites in a neuron?

Receive signals from other neurons or sensory receptor cells.

What is the function of the axon?

A long slender fiber that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body.

What is an action potential?

An electrical signal that travels along the axon.

What is the function of the myelin sheath?

Insulates the axon and speeds up electrical impulses.

What are the Nodes of Ranvier?

Gaps in the myelin sheath that allow for faster electrical transmission.

What is the myelin sheath composed of?

A white layer of insulating fat surrounding the axon.

What is the role of Schwann cells?

Form the myelin sheath.

What is saltatory conduction?

Propagation of action potentials along myelinated axons from one node of Ranvier to the next, increasing the speed of electrical transmission.

What is the function of the axon terminal?

Connects the neurone to other neurones (or directly to organs) using synaptic transmission.

What is the function of the myelin sheath? (Matching)

Insulates/protects the axon from external influences that might affect the transmission of the nerve impulse down the axon.

What is the nucleus? (Matching)

The control center of a cell, which contains the cell's chromosomal DNA.

What is the dendrite? (Matching)

Receives the nerve impulse or signal from adjacent neurons.

What is the axon? (Matching)

Where the electrical signals pass along.

What are the Nodes of Ranvier? (Matching)

These speed up the transmission of the impulse by forcing it to 'jump'.

What are the terminal buttons? (Matching)

These send signals to an adjacent cell.

What is the function of sensory neurons?

Carry nerve impulses from receptor cells to the spinal cord and brain.

What is the function of relay neurones?

Found in the brain and spinal cord and allow sensory and motor neurons to communicate.

What is the function of motor neurones?

Found in the central nervous system (CNS) and control muscle movements.

What is an excitatory synapse?

Increases the activity of the post-synaptic membrane by depolarisation due to the influx of Na+ ions, causing an action potential to be fired.

What is an inhibitory synapse?

Decreases activity of post-synaptic membrane by hyperpolarisation due to the influx of Cl- ions, causing no action potential to be fired.