Human Anatomy Final Exam Review 2026: Tissues, Respiratory &
Cardiovascular Systems, Exams of Anatomy
Nervous Tissue - ANSWERMade up of neurons (nerve cells) and neuroglial
cells
Nerve Impulse - ANSWERElectrical messages that travel down a neuron (how
messages travel to and from brain)
Anatomy of a Neuron - ANSWERCell body, dendrites, axons, axon terminal,
synaptic vesicles
Cell Body - ANSWERSpherical part of cell, main control center, contains
nucleus and Nissl bodies that consist of endoplasmic reticulum which makes
proteins
Dendrites - ANSWERBranches coming off of cell body that receive messages
from 5 senses and other neurons
,Axons - ANSWERLong, hair-like extension that carries messages to other
neurons or to a muscle, gland, etc.
Axon Terminal - ANSWEREnd of an axon
Synaptic Vesicles - ANSWERSmall bubbles in the axon terminal that contain
neurotransmitters
Synapse - ANSWERPoint of contact with another neuron or muscle (when
nerve interacts with another cell in human body, that nerve innervates that
cell)
Unipolar - ANSWEROne branch (dendrite and axon combined)
Bipolar - ANSWERTwo branches (dendrite and axon separate)
Multipolar - ANSWERMany branches (many dendrites, only one axon)
Astrocytes (CNS) - ANSWERStructural support, communication between
neurons
Oligodendrocytes (CNS) - ANSWERWrap around axons
Microglia (CNS) - ANSWERImmune protection
,Ependyma (CNS) - ANSWERForm porous layer between brain/spinal cord and
cerebrospinal fluid
Schwann Cells (PNS) - ANSWERWrap around axons and make it so the speed
of the nerve impulse goes FAST
Nerve Impulse 2 - ANSWERInformation in the form of an electrochemical
signal that travels through a neuron (electric message = multiple action
potentials/chemical message = synapse)
Action Potential - ANSWERA temporary change in electrical potential in the
cell membrane of a neuron (electrical component of nerve impulse made up
of multiple action potentials)
Synapse - ANSWERRegion of contact where a neuron transfers information
(nerve impulse) to another neuron
Presynaptic Neuron - ANSWERFirst neuron that contains the axon terminal
and which transfers information to the postsynaptic neuron
Postsynaptic Neuron - ANSWERSecond neuron that receives information from
the presynaptic neuron
Synaptic Cleft - ANSWERSpace between pre and postsynaptic neuron
Synaptic Vesicles - ANSWERSmall membrane-enclosed spheres in the axon
terminal that store neurotransmitters
, Neurotransmitters - ANSWERChemical used to communicate with
postsynaptic neuron
Protein Channels - ANSWEROn postsynaptic neuron and which allow ions to
enter
Calcium Protein Channels - ANSWEROn sides of axon terminal
Axodendritic Synapse - ANSWERSynapse at dendrite (axon to dendrite)
Axosomatic Synapse - ANSWERSynapse at soma (axon to cell body)
Neurotransmitters - ANSWERChemical that an axon terminal secretes to
stimulate a muscle fiber or a neuron to fire an action potential and which are
stored in synaptic vesicles (acetylcholine = signals muscles to contract)
Synaptic Transmission - ANSWERProcess by which the nerve impulse in the
presynaptic neuron signals the postsynaptic neuron so the nerve impulse can
continue
Meninges - ANSWERBrain protected by three membranes
Dura Mater - ANSWEROutermost membrane, tough, inelastic
Arachnoid Membrane - ANSWERMiddle membrane (spider-web)
Cardiovascular Systems, Exams of Anatomy
Nervous Tissue - ANSWERMade up of neurons (nerve cells) and neuroglial
cells
Nerve Impulse - ANSWERElectrical messages that travel down a neuron (how
messages travel to and from brain)
Anatomy of a Neuron - ANSWERCell body, dendrites, axons, axon terminal,
synaptic vesicles
Cell Body - ANSWERSpherical part of cell, main control center, contains
nucleus and Nissl bodies that consist of endoplasmic reticulum which makes
proteins
Dendrites - ANSWERBranches coming off of cell body that receive messages
from 5 senses and other neurons
,Axons - ANSWERLong, hair-like extension that carries messages to other
neurons or to a muscle, gland, etc.
Axon Terminal - ANSWEREnd of an axon
Synaptic Vesicles - ANSWERSmall bubbles in the axon terminal that contain
neurotransmitters
Synapse - ANSWERPoint of contact with another neuron or muscle (when
nerve interacts with another cell in human body, that nerve innervates that
cell)
Unipolar - ANSWEROne branch (dendrite and axon combined)
Bipolar - ANSWERTwo branches (dendrite and axon separate)
Multipolar - ANSWERMany branches (many dendrites, only one axon)
Astrocytes (CNS) - ANSWERStructural support, communication between
neurons
Oligodendrocytes (CNS) - ANSWERWrap around axons
Microglia (CNS) - ANSWERImmune protection
,Ependyma (CNS) - ANSWERForm porous layer between brain/spinal cord and
cerebrospinal fluid
Schwann Cells (PNS) - ANSWERWrap around axons and make it so the speed
of the nerve impulse goes FAST
Nerve Impulse 2 - ANSWERInformation in the form of an electrochemical
signal that travels through a neuron (electric message = multiple action
potentials/chemical message = synapse)
Action Potential - ANSWERA temporary change in electrical potential in the
cell membrane of a neuron (electrical component of nerve impulse made up
of multiple action potentials)
Synapse - ANSWERRegion of contact where a neuron transfers information
(nerve impulse) to another neuron
Presynaptic Neuron - ANSWERFirst neuron that contains the axon terminal
and which transfers information to the postsynaptic neuron
Postsynaptic Neuron - ANSWERSecond neuron that receives information from
the presynaptic neuron
Synaptic Cleft - ANSWERSpace between pre and postsynaptic neuron
Synaptic Vesicles - ANSWERSmall membrane-enclosed spheres in the axon
terminal that store neurotransmitters
, Neurotransmitters - ANSWERChemical used to communicate with
postsynaptic neuron
Protein Channels - ANSWEROn postsynaptic neuron and which allow ions to
enter
Calcium Protein Channels - ANSWEROn sides of axon terminal
Axodendritic Synapse - ANSWERSynapse at dendrite (axon to dendrite)
Axosomatic Synapse - ANSWERSynapse at soma (axon to cell body)
Neurotransmitters - ANSWERChemical that an axon terminal secretes to
stimulate a muscle fiber or a neuron to fire an action potential and which are
stored in synaptic vesicles (acetylcholine = signals muscles to contract)
Synaptic Transmission - ANSWERProcess by which the nerve impulse in the
presynaptic neuron signals the postsynaptic neuron so the nerve impulse can
continue
Meninges - ANSWERBrain protected by three membranes
Dura Mater - ANSWEROutermost membrane, tough, inelastic
Arachnoid Membrane - ANSWERMiddle membrane (spider-web)
