neuron

neuron	A neuron is a nerve cell that sends messages from the body to the brain and vice versa. These messages enable us to breathe, talk, eat, think, etc.
interneuron	Make up most of the neurons in the body and they regulate motor activity and carry sensory information. Central nodes of neural circuits and assist with reflexes.
synapse	Small space between two cells which is necessary for communication when a neuron passes a chemical/electrical message to another neuron/target effector cell.
axon terminal	The structure at the end of an axon that releases neurotransmitters which helps to convey signals across synapses.
synaptic vesicle	Holds neurotransmitters and releases them during synapse. They are released during calcium triggered exocytosis.
neurilemma	Plasma membrane that surrounds a Schwann cell which covers the axon of a neuron. They help to protect peripheral nerve fibers.
action potential	The rapid sequence of changes when a cell's membrane potential quickly rises and falls. It happens as a result of an electrical impulse that sends information along the axon of a neuron.
all-or-nothing principle	When a nerve fiber is stimulated it will fire a full response of an impulse over the synapse to the next neuron regardless of the strength of the stimulus.
gradient	The rate of change over a distance or time. Changes such as concentration.
electrolyte	Substance that creates electricity from broken down positively and negatively charged particles (ions). The movement of these ions creates electricity.
passive transport	Moves chemicals across a cell membrane from an area of high concentration to low concentration. Does not require energy to move substances across cell membranes.
active transport	Moves molecules/ions across a cell membrane from an area of low concentration to an area of high concentration. Requires cellular energy to perform this.
unipolar neuron	Conducts impulses toward and away from the cell body. They are single process sensory neurons in the PNS ganglia.
multipolar neuron	Processes one axon and many dendrites that transfer and integrate information between cells. Most abundant neuron in humans.
soma	Transports proteins through the axons and dendrites. Contains the nucleus and the neurons DNA. Also synthesizes macromolecules.
axon	Part of the neuron where nerve/electrical impulses are carried away from the cell body to be received by other neurons.
dendrite	Branched extension of the cell body that carries messages from neurons and brings them into the cell body. Receives and processes synaptic signals in the brain.
node of ranvier	The gaps of myelinated neurons which help to conduct nerve impulses. Has cell adhesion molecules and enriched with sodium and potassium ion channels.
myelination	The creation of a myelin sheath around a nerve cell axon. The myelin sheath is composed of glial cells and is a lipid protein.
saltatory conduction	The movement of nerve impulses down the myelinated axon from one node of ranvier to another. Transmits action potential.