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Afferent
Direction of communication that goes to the brain; example includes sensory input.
Efferent
Direction of communication that moves away from the brain; example includes motor output.
Neurons
Cells in the nervous system that receive, process, and send information.
Glia
Support cells of the nervous system that nourish and myelinate neighboring neurons.
Sensory Neurons
Neurons that receive specific information from the external world via specialized receptors and send that information to the CNS.
Motor Neurons
Neurons that control movement and conduct efferent signals from the brain and body.
Interneuron
Neurons that act locally between other neurons in the brain and spinal cord.
Axon
Part of the neuron that sends information to downstream neurons; typically only one per neuron.
Dendrites
Antennae of a neuron that receive information from the surrounding environment or other neurons.
Golgi's Reticular Theory
Theory proposing that neurites fuse together to form a continuous network in the brain.
Cajal's Neuron Doctrine
Theory stating that neurons communicate by direct contact, not connected continuity.
Astrocytes
A type of glial cell that influences neurite growth and regulates chemical content in the extracellular space.
Microglia
Phagocytes that serve immune functions and respond to damage or inflammation in the nervous system.
Myelinating Glia
Cells that provide electrical insulation on axons; examples include oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells.
Synapse
The space or location where two neurons meet.
Presynaptic Terminal
Part of the neuron lined with vesicles that are ready to release neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitter
Chemical substances that transmit signals across a synapse.
Resting Membrane Potential
The non-active state of the neuron, typically around -65mV.
Action Potential
A rapid rise and fall in membrane potential that occurs when a neuron is firing.
Absolute Refractory Period
A phase during which a neuron cannot fire another action potential, as voltage-gated Na+ channels are inactive.
Relative Refractory Period
A phase during which a neuron can fire another action potential with strong enough stimuli.
Saltatory Conduction
The process by which action potentials jump between Nodes of Ranvier in myelinated axons.
Synaptic Transmission
The process by which neurotransmitters are released from a neuron and bind to receptors on another neuron.
Reuptake
The process through which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron after signal transmission.
Botulinum toxin
A toxin that blocks ACh release by cleaving SNARE proteins, leading to paralysis.
Tetanus toxin
A toxin that blocks GABA/Glycine release by cleaving synaptobrevin, resulting in muscle spasms.
