PSY 246 Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Neuroanatomy
Document Summary
Neurons and glia are the specialized cells of the nervous system. Dendrites: receive incoming information from other neurons; increase surface area available for reception of signals from axons of other neurons. Soma (cell body): contains genetic machinery and most of the metabolic machinery needed for common cellular functions. Axon: sends neural information to other neurons; neuron has only one axon. Synapse: gap through which information is passed from the axon to the dendrite. Presynaptic: events that occur in the axon. Postsynaptic: events that occur in the dendrite. Myelin: speeds rate of information transfer and ensures message gets to the end of the axon. Terminal button: the end of an axon; information is sent from terminal button across the synapse to the dendrite. Neurotransmitters can be transformed into an electrical message within the dendrite. Plasma membrane: consists of bilayer of continuous sheets of phospholipids.
