PS 130 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Myelin, Neurotransmission, Action Potential
Document Summary
Definition: basic elements of your nervous system. Dendrites: they are branch like projections that receive messages from other neurons. Axon: tube like extension that carries messages from the dendrite to the other neurons. Myelin sheath: fatty layer and protein covering of the axon; acts like insulation for the axon to increase the speed of the message. Terminal buttons: little nodes a the end of the axon which helps send the final message to the other neurons. Resting state: the inside of a neuron is more negatively charged than the outside. Action potential: a neural impulse; positive ions fill the neuron. Vesicles and neurotransmitters: bundles or sacs of neurotransmitters which contain the chemical message for the next neuron. Synaptic gap: where the chemical message transports to the next neuron. Excitatory messages: increases the likelihood of another action potential. Inhibitory messages: provides chemical messages to prevent or decrease the likelihood of an action potential.