Impulse in Biological Definition

Axon

... evenly spaced intervals, enabling an especially rapid mode of electrical impulse propagation called saltation . The axons of some neurons branch to form axon collaterals , along which the bifurcated impulse travels simultaneously to signal more than one other cell. History ...

Synapse

... The release of neurotransmitter is triggered by the arrival of a nerve impulse (or action potential ) and occurs through an unusually rapid process of ... several neurons that weakly synapse on a single cell, they may initiate an impulse in that cell even though the synapses are weak. On the other hand, a ...

Ion channel

... signals, or mechanical force, depending on the variety of channel. Biological role Because "voltage-gated" channels underlie the nerve impulse and because "transmitter-gated" channels mediate conduction across the synapses , channels are especially prominent components of the nervous ...

Neurotransmitter

... receptor. Neurotransmitters may cause either excitatory or inhibitory post-synaptic potentials. That is, they may help the initiation of a nerve impulse in the receiving neuron, or they may discourage such an impulse, by modifying the local membrane voltage potential. In the central nervous system, ...

Receptor

... a receiver . In physiology , a sensory receptor is any structure which, on receiving environmental stimuli, produces an informative nerve impulse . In biochemistry , a receptor is a protein molecule that receives and responds to a specific neurotransmitter , hormone , or other ...

Vestibular system

... reflex , or short VOR . This reflex, combined with the push-pull principle described above, forms the physiological basis of the Rapid head impulse test or Halmagyi-Curthoys-test : when the function of your right balance system reduced by a disease or by an accident, quick head movements to the ...