Chapter 2 Neuron & Nervous System
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21 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Biological Psychology | a branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (including neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes |
| Neuron | Highly specialized cell that communicates information in electrical & chemical form; a nerve cell |
| Sensory Neuron | Type of neuron that conveys information to the brain from specialized recialzied receptor cells in sense organs and internal organs |
| Motor Neurons | Type of neuron that signals muscles to relax or contract |
| Interneuron | Type of neuron that communicates information from one neuron to the next |
| Cell Body | Processes nutrients and provides energy for the neuron to function |
| Dendrites | short fibers that branch out from the cell body and pick up incoming messages |
| Axon | long nerve fiber that conducts away from the cell body of the neuron |
| Myelin Sheath | covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses |
| Action Potential | a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon |
| Synaptic Gap | space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the receptors of the next neuron |
| Axon Terminals | Branches at the end of the axon that contain tiny pouches, or sacs, called synaptic vesicles. |
| Synaptic Vesicles | Tiny pouches or sacs in the axon terminals that contain chemicals called neurotransmitters. |
| Neurotransmitters | chemicals that transmit information from one neuron to another |
| Nervous System | Primary internal communication network of the body divided into the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system |
| Central Nervous System | consists of the brain and spinal cord |
| Peripheral Nervous System | the section of the nervous system lying outside the brain and spinal cord |
| Sympatheic Nervous System | Branch of autonomic nervous system the produces rapid physical arousal in response to perceived emergencies or threats |
| Parasympathetic Nervous System | the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy |
| Autonomic Nervous System | division of the nervous system that control the glands and organs; its divisions arouse or calm |
| Hormones | chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream primarily by endocrine glands |
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