PSYC 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Neuroglia, Exocytosis, Neurotransmission

• School: Simon Fraser University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Terry Hammond

Document Summary

Basic structure and functions of the neuron: are specialized cells of the nervous system that transmit signals throughout the body. You may already know that neurons can do many different things from sensing external and internal stimuli, to processing information and also directing muscle actions. The most unique and important structures of a neuron are the long extensions that extend out from the cell body. There are two types of extensions: dendrites and axons. Dendrites are extensions of neurons that receive signals and conduct them toward the cell body. Axons are extensions of neurons that conduct signals away from the cell body to other cells. Basic functions of glial cells: they are thus known as the "supporting cells" of the nervous system. Neurotransmission: also called synaptic transmission, is the process by which signaling molecules called neurotransmitters are released by a neuron (the presynaptic neuron), and bind to and activate the receptors of another neuron (the postsynaptic neuron).