NEURON FUNCTION TEST PREP
COURSEWORK SCRIPT STUDY SHEET 2026
GRADED A+.
⫸ neurons. Answer: Specialized cells in the nervous system that
communicate using chemical and electrical signals. Many, but not all,
_________ are excitable cells that generate action potentials.
⫸ motor neuron. Answer: A neuron that transmits signals from the
central nervous system to skeletal muscles.
⫸ dendrites. Answer: The branching extensions of a neuronal cell
body that carry signals toward the cell body.
⫸ cell body. Answer: Contains the nucleus.
⫸ axon hillock. Answer: The junction between the cell body and
axon of a neuron. In many neurons, the _________ is the site of
action potential initiation, acting as the trigger zone for the neuron.
⫸ axon. Answer: A projection of the cell body of a neuron that is
involved in carrying information, usually in the form of action
potentials, from the cell body to the _________ terminal.
, ⫸ action potential. Answer: A relatively large-amplitude, rapid
change in the membrane potential of an excitable cell as a result of the
opening and closing of voltage-gated ion channels; involved in
transmitting signals across long distances in the nervous system.
⫸ myelin sheath. Answer: The insulating wrappings of vertebrate
axons that are composed of multiple layers of glial cell plasma
membrane. Invertebrate axons have analogous wrappings, but they
are not generally termed a _________.
⫸ axon terminal. Answer: The distal end of an axon that forms a
synapse with an effector cell or neuron.
⫸ synapse. Answer: The junction between a neuron and another
neuron or effector cell; consists of a presynaptic cell, the synaptic
cleft, and a postsynaptic cell
⫸ depolarization. Answer: A change in the membrane potential of a
cell from its normally negative resting membrane potential to a more
positive value; a relative increase in the positive charge on the inside
of the cell membrane.
⫸ hyperpolarization. Answer: A change in the membrane potential of
a cell from its normally negative resting membrane potential to a
more negative value; a relative increase in the negative charge on the
inside of the cell membrane.
COURSEWORK SCRIPT STUDY SHEET 2026
GRADED A+.
⫸ neurons. Answer: Specialized cells in the nervous system that
communicate using chemical and electrical signals. Many, but not all,
_________ are excitable cells that generate action potentials.
⫸ motor neuron. Answer: A neuron that transmits signals from the
central nervous system to skeletal muscles.
⫸ dendrites. Answer: The branching extensions of a neuronal cell
body that carry signals toward the cell body.
⫸ cell body. Answer: Contains the nucleus.
⫸ axon hillock. Answer: The junction between the cell body and
axon of a neuron. In many neurons, the _________ is the site of
action potential initiation, acting as the trigger zone for the neuron.
⫸ axon. Answer: A projection of the cell body of a neuron that is
involved in carrying information, usually in the form of action
potentials, from the cell body to the _________ terminal.
, ⫸ action potential. Answer: A relatively large-amplitude, rapid
change in the membrane potential of an excitable cell as a result of the
opening and closing of voltage-gated ion channels; involved in
transmitting signals across long distances in the nervous system.
⫸ myelin sheath. Answer: The insulating wrappings of vertebrate
axons that are composed of multiple layers of glial cell plasma
membrane. Invertebrate axons have analogous wrappings, but they
are not generally termed a _________.
⫸ axon terminal. Answer: The distal end of an axon that forms a
synapse with an effector cell or neuron.
⫸ synapse. Answer: The junction between a neuron and another
neuron or effector cell; consists of a presynaptic cell, the synaptic
cleft, and a postsynaptic cell
⫸ depolarization. Answer: A change in the membrane potential of a
cell from its normally negative resting membrane potential to a more
positive value; a relative increase in the positive charge on the inside
of the cell membrane.
⫸ hyperpolarization. Answer: A change in the membrane potential of
a cell from its normally negative resting membrane potential to a
more negative value; a relative increase in the negative charge on the
inside of the cell membrane.
