BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
CHAPTER 2 - FUNCTIONAL
NEUROANATOMY QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
m neuron - the basic unit of a cell, each composed of a cell body, receptive extensions (dendrites), and a
transmitting extension (axon)
glial cells - nonneural brain cells that provide structural, nutritional, and other types of support to the
brain
neuron doctrine - the hypothesis that the brain is composed of cells that are distinct structurally,
metabolically, and functionally
synapse - the tiny gap between neurons where information is passed from one to the other
cell body - the region of a neuron that is defined by the presence of the cell nucleus
mitochondrion - a cellular organelle that provides metabolic energy for the cell's processes
cell nucleus - the spherical central structure of a cell that contains the chromosomes
ribosomes - structures in the cell body where genetic info is translated to produce proteins
input zone - the part of a neuron that receives info from other neurons or from specialized sensory
structures. usually corresponds to the cell's dendrites.
dendrite - one of the extensions of the cell body through which synaptic inputs are received
integration zone - the part of the neuron that initiates nerve electrical activity; usually corresponds to
the neuron's axon hillock
conduction zone - the part of the neuron over which the nerve's electrical signal may be actively
propagated. usually corresponds to the cell's axon.
axon - a single extension from the nerve cell that carries action potentials from the cell body to other
neurons
axon collateral - a branch of an axon from a single neuron
output zone - the part of a neuron, usually corresponding to the axon terminals, at which the cell sends
info the another cell
axon terminal - the end of an axon or axon collateral, which forms a synapse on a neuron or other target
cell
, multipolar neuron - a nerve cell that has many dendrites and a single axon
bipolar neuron - a nerve cell that has a single dendrite at one end and a single axon at the other end
unipolar neuron - a nerve cell with a single branch that leaves the cell body and then extends in two
directions; one end is the receptive pole, the other end the output zone
interneuron - a neuron that is neither a sensory neuron nor a motor neuron; it receives input from and
sends output to other neurons
motor neuron - a nerve cell that transmits motor messages, stimulating a muscle or gland
sensory neuron - a neuron that is directly affected by changes in the environment, such as light, odor, or
touch
arborization - the elaborate branching of the dendrites of some neurons
presynaptic - referring to the region of a synapse that releases neurotransmitter
postsynaptic - referring to the region of a synapse that receives and responds to neurotransmitter
presynaptic membrane - the specialized membrane of the axon terminal of the neuron that transmits
info by releasing neurotransmitter
synaptic cleft - the space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes
postsynaptic membrane - the specialized membrane on the surface of the cell that receives info by
responding to neurotransmitter from a presynaptic neuron
synaptic vesicle - a small, spherical structure that contains molecules of neurotransmitter
neurotransmitter - the chemical released from the presynaptic axon terminal that serves as the basis of
communication between neurons
receptor - a protein that binds and reacts to molecules of a neurotransmitter or hormone
neural plasticity - the ability of the nervous system to change in response to experience or the
environment
axon hillock - a cone-shaped area from which the axon originates out of the cell body. functionally, the
integration zone of the neuron.
histology - the scientific study of the composition of tissues
nissl stain - a cell stain that reveals all cell bodies by staining RNA
golgi stain - a cell stain that fills a small proportion of neurons with a dense dark product
autoradiography - a histological technique that shows the distribution of radioactive chemicals in tissues
immunohistochemistry - a technique in which labeled antibodies are used to visualize the histological
distribution of specific proteins
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