PSY 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Myelin, Postsynaptic Potential, Extracellular Fluid
Document Summary
Soma (cell body): contains dna and genetic material with information about processes necessary to keep the cell alive. Dendrites: tree-like extensions (often many) that receive signals from other neurons and pass them down to the axon. Axon hillock: bump on soma from which axon emanates; decision point (whether or not to conduct a nervous impulse) Axon: leaves cell from soma and goes to terminal region of cells (transmits signals) Impulses travel with constant speed across axon. Myelin sheath: fatty cells that serve as method of insulation. Nodes of ranvier: small sections of axon that are exposed (between myelin sheath) from which nervous impulses jump to increase speed across axon. Synaptic gap/cleft: space between sending neuron and receiving neuron. Synaptic vesicles: sacks found in sending neurons (in presynaptic membranes)that contain neurotransmitters and hold them until they receive a signal (nervous impulse) to release them to cross over to receiving neuron (postsynaptic membrane) Pre-synaptic: referring to cell sending the signal.
