Microtubules are protein filaments that have a tubular structure and, together with actin and intermediate filaments, form the cytoskeleton of eukaryotic cells. They stabilize the cell and also participate in transport and movement within the cell. What are microtubules? Microtubules are tubular polymers whose protein structures are about 24nm in diameter. Together with other filaments, … Microtubules: Structure, Function & Diseases
The term excitation conduction refers to the transmission of excitation in nerve or muscle cells. Excitation conduction is also often referred to as conduction of excitation, but from a medical point of view, this term is not entirely correct. What is excitation conduction? The term excitation conduction refers to the transmission of excitation in nerve … Excitation Conduction: Function, Tasks, Role & Diseases
Neurological latency is the time between a stimulus and the stimulus response. It is thus equal in duration to the nerve conduction velocity. In addition, latency in medicine can mean the time between contact with a noxious agent and the first symptoms. Neurological latency is prolonged in demyelination. What is the latency period? Neurological latency … Latency: Function, Tasks, Role & Diseases
The area postrema is located at the rhomboid fossa in the brainstem and is part of the vomiting center. This functional unit of the nervous system elicits vomiting when appropriately stimulated, thereby performing a protective role. Antiemetics inhibit this response as part of the treatment of traumatic brain injury and other neurologic conditions. What is … Area Postrema: Structure, Function & Diseases
The teres major muscle is one of the skeletal muscles that humans can control voluntarily and forms part of the rotator cuff. It extends from the lower edge of the scapula to the upper arm and participates in the movements of the arm. What is the teres major muscle? On the back is located the … Musculus Teres Major: Structure, Function & Diseases
The threshold potential describes a specific charge difference at the membrane of excitable cells. When the membrane potential attenuates to a certain value in the course of depolarization, an action potential is induced via the opening of voltage-dependent ion channels. The value to be reached in each case, which is necessary for the generation of … Threshold Potential: Function, Tasks, Role & Diseases
The branch-like and multiply branched cytoplasmic processes of a nerve cell (neuron), through which information is received and impulses are transmitted to the body, is referred to in technical language as the dendrite. This serves to receive electrical stimuli and transmits them to the cell body (soma) of the nerve cell. What is a dendrite? … Dendrite: Structure, Function & Diseases
Gray matter is an important component of the central nervous system and significantly determines its functions. The brain‘s intelligence performance is particularly associated with the gray matter. However, in addition to intelligence, it controls all perceptual processes and motor performance in humans. What is gray matter? The central nervous system is composed of both gray … Gray Matter: Structure, Function & Diseases
Myelin is the name given to a special, particularly lipid-rich, biomembrane that mainly acts as a so-called myelin sheath or medullary sheath, enclosing axons of nerve cells of the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system and electrically insulating the contained nerve fibers. Because of regular interruptions of the myelin sheaths (Ranvier’s cord rings), … Myelin: Structure, Function & Diseases
Myelin sheath is the term used to describe the covering of the neurites of a nerve cell, which can be up to one meter long. The myelin sheath protects the nerve fiber, insulates it electrically, and allows much faster transmission speeds than nonmyelinated nerve fibers. Myelin sheaths are composed of special lipids, phospholipids, and structural … Myelin Sheath: Structure, Function & Diseases
Myelogenesis is the medical term used to describe, first, embryonic spinal cord formation and, second, the formation of the medulla of all medullary nerves, which is carried out by oligodendroglia and Schwann cells. Both meanings of the term deal with developmental processes of the nervous system. Disorders of these developmental processes result in functional impairment … Myelogenesis: Function, Tasks, Role & Diseases
The radius periosteal reflex is an intrinsic reflex of the human body. Normally, a blow to the arm triggers a slight flexion of the forearm; if the reflex is absent, this may indicate a neurological or muscular disorder. What is the radial periosteal reflex? The radius periosteal reflex is an intrinsic reflex of the human … Radial Periosteal Reflex: Function, Role & Diseases
