Nervous System and Spinal Cord

rapid change in membrane potential due to changes in the flux of potassium and sodium ions inside and outside the cell

neuron that carries sensory information from sensory organs (e.g., eyes, ears, and skin) to the central nervous system

neuron that has multiple projections, none of which are easily identifiable as the axon

star-shaped glial cell in the CNS that supports neurons by connecting them to nutrient supplies and by repairing nervous tissue after injury

extension from the neuronal cell body that transmits the signal to receiving cells

end of an axon where nerve impulses are transmitted to the next cell

neuron with a cell body with one dendrite and one axon extending off of it in opposite directions from each end

division of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord

extension from the neuronal cell body that receives input from other cells

neuron that carries motor information from the CNS to effector organs, including muscles and glands

part of the autonomic nervous system, a division of the PNS, that controls local blood flow, movement, and mucus secretions

type of glial cell, in the CNS, that lines the spinal cord and ventricles of the brain as well as produces cerebrospinal fluid

bundle of neurons in a nerve fiber that belongs to the peripheral nervous system

mass of tissue that contains several cell bodies

area of the spinal cord consisting of cell bodies that have no myelin covering, appears gray, and is surrounded by white matter

neuron that relays information between an afferent (sensory) neuron and efferent (motor) neuron

a glial cell that mediates immune responses in the CNS

neuron that contains a single axon and many dendrites that extend from the cell body

lipid-rich material that wraps around the axon and helps impulses travel through neurons

cells that support and protect neurons

cell in the nervous tissue that transmits electrical and chemical signals throughout the body

chemical that binds to receptors and excites or inhibits postsynaptic cells

gap between myelin sheaths where the axon is uncovered

glial cell that generates myelin, which wraps around axons in the CNS

division of the nervous system that includes all nerves extending from the brain and spinal cord

glial cell in the PNS that surrounds the cell bodies of neurons in sensory, sympathetic, and parasympathetic ganglia

glial cell that provides myelination to axons in the PNS

bundle of neurons in a nerve fiber that belongs to the central nervous system

sensory neuron that has a single, long axon extending from the cell body

area of the spinal cord made up of axons covered with myelin and surrounding and connecting areas of gray matter