Parts of the Neuron
These branchy little extensions love to receive gossip from neighboring neurons.
What are dendrites?
When a neuron’s resting, it’s negatively charged on the inside and positive outside—this state is called ____.
What is resting potential?
The tiny gap between neurons where the magic of communication happens.
What is the synapse (or synaptic cleft)?
The “feel-good” chemical behind mood and appetite—SSRIs love it.
What is serotonin?
Neurons communicate electrically inside the cell and chemically here.
What is the synapse?
This long, skinny fiber sends messages away from the cell body—basically the neuron’s delivery service.
What is the axon?
Once the neuron gets enough excitement to fire, it reaches this “go time” level.
What is threshold?
Chemical messengers that cross the synapse to deliver the news.
What are neurotransmitters?
This one helps with movement, learning, and pleasure—too little can mean Parkinson’s.
What is dopamine?
The inside-the-neuron signal that moves like a wave down the axon.
What is an electrical impulse (action potential)?
Fatty insulation that helps impulses zoom faster, like a neural expressway.
What is the myelin sheath?
This all-or-nothing event sends an electrical charge racing down the axon.
What is an action potential?
After sending their message, neurotransmitters get re-absorbed—talk about recycling!
What is reuptake?
The body’s natural painkiller, making runners high feel oh so good.
What are endorphins?
When the signal crosses to another neuron, this type of communication takes over.
What is chemical transmission?
Gaps in the myelin sheath that let the electrical signal “jump” like it’s playing hopscotch.
What are the nodes of Ranvier?
After firing, the neuron needs a short nap—scientists call that the ____.
What is the refractory period?
The receiving neuron’s “mailboxes” that are picky about which transmitter they’ll accept.
What are receptor sites?
The brain’s chill pill—low levels link to anxiety.
What is GABA?
When the signal goes back to resting, this occurs to reset the neuron’s charge.
What is hyper polarization?
What are the buttons responsible for?
What is sending messages via neurotransmitters
During this process, sodium ions rush in and potassium ions rush out, flipping the charge like a light switch.
What is depolarization?
This is what happens when a neurotransmitter makes the next neuron more likely to fire—think of it as a “you got this!” text
What is excitatory transmission?
The “on switch” of the nervous system, linked to alertness and adrenaline rushes.
What is norepinephrine (or epinephrine)?
This process allows electrical impulses to jump quickly along the myelin-covered axon.
What is saltatory conduction? or jumping of a signal