AP Psych Unit 1 Vocab

Front

What is the soma in a neuron?

Back

The cell body of a neuron that contains the nucleus and maintains the cell’s health.

Front

What is the function of the axon?

Back

The long fiber that carries neural impulses away from the soma toward other neurons or muscles.

Front

What is myelin and its role?

Back

A fatty coating that covers the axon, speeding up neural transmission and preventing signal loss.

Front

What is a synapse?

Back

The small gap between neurons where neurotransmitters are released to send signals to the next cell.

Front

What are glial cells?

Back

Support cells in the nervous system that provide nutrients, clean up waste, and produce myelin.

Front

What is a reflex arc?

Back

The simple neural pathway that bypasses the brain and allows an automatic response to a stimulus.

Front

What are sensory neurons?

Back

Nerve cells that carry messages from sensory receptors toward the brain and spinal cord.

Front

What are interneurons?

Back

Neurons found in the brain and spinal cord that connect sensory and motor neurons.

Front

What are motor neurons?

Back

Neurons that carry commands from the central nervous system to muscles and glands.

Front

What is reuptake in neural communication?

Back

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the sending neuron after transmission.