Central Nervous System Aantomy Flashcards

How well do you understand the central nervous system anatomy? This system is one that the body cannot operate without as it is made up of the spinal cord and the brain. The primary function of this system is to collect sensory input from the body and the external environment. Do check out these flashcards and get to understand the system a little better.

51 cards   |   Total Attempts: 183
  

Cards In This Set

Front Back
List the three structures of the neuron
Axon Dendrite Cell Body
What property of neurons allows them to communicate?
They are excitable.
What 3 things can neurons communicate with?
Other neurons, muscles, and glands
What are the junctions between neurons called?
Synapses
What is the relationship between axon length and cell body size?
Longest axons are associated with the longest cell bodies
In long neurons, what makes up most of the cell’s volume?
Axons
What actually insulates the axon?
Tightly wound cell membrane after the cytoplasm has been squeezed out
Why does it take many Schwann cells to insulate a single axon?
Due to axon length
What are the gaps between regions of myelination called? Why are they important?
Nodes of Ranvier; they aid in salutatory conduction; essential for conduction of action potential
What does an action potential consist of?
A large change in membrane potential from a resting value of –70mV to a peak of about +30mV and a return to –70mV
In what part of the neuron is the action potential generated?
Axon hillock
What is special about this part of the neuron? Why are action potentials generated here?
Signals from the dendrites and cell body reach axon hillock and cause depolarization
When does the action potential begin?
Signals from the dendrites and cell body reach the axon hillock and cause the membrane potential there to become more positive (depolarization).
What happens at threshold?
If the stimulus at the axon hillock causes the neuron to depolarize by about 15mV and reaches a trigger point called threshold
What happens if the stimulus is too weak to achieve threshold?
It does not reach threshold and does not produce an action potential