CHOLINERGIC FIBER Meaning and
Definition
-
A cholinergic fiber is a type of nerve fiber that releases the neurotransmitter acetylcholine upon the stimulation of an action potential. Acetylcholine acts as a chemical messenger in the nervous system, transmitting signals between nerve cells and between nerve cells and target tissues, such as muscles or organs. Cholinergic fibers are found throughout the body, alongside other types of nerve fibers like adrenergic or noradrenergic fibers, and play a key role in various physiological processes.
Cholinergic fibers are categorized into two main types: preganglionic fibers and postganglionic fibers. Preganglionic fibers originate from cell bodies in the central nervous system, either in the brain or spinal cord, and travel to autonomic ganglia, which are clusters of nerve cell bodies outside the central nervous system. Once in the ganglia, these fibers synapse with postganglionic fibers. Postganglionic fibers then extend from the ganglia to the target tissues, such as smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal tract or glands like salivary glands.
The cholinergic system is involved in regulating various functions in the body, including heart rate, digestion, glandular secretion, and muscle contractions. An imbalance or malfunction in the cholinergic system can have significant implications for health, leading to disorders like Alzheimer's disease, myasthenia gravis, or autonomic dysfunctions. Consequently, cholinergic fibers and their associated neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, have been targets for therapeutic interventions and drug development aiming to modulate or enhance their activity or availability.
Common Misspellings for CHOLINERGIC FIBER
- xholinergic fiber
- vholinergic fiber
- fholinergic fiber
- dholinergic fiber
- cgolinergic fiber
- cbolinergic fiber
- cnolinergic fiber
- cjolinergic fiber
- cuolinergic fiber
- cyolinergic fiber
- chilinergic fiber
- chklinergic fiber
- chllinergic fiber
- chplinergic fiber
- ch0linergic fiber
- ch9linergic fiber
- chokinergic fiber
- chopinergic fiber
- chooinergic fiber
- cholunergic fiber
Etymology of CHOLINERGIC FIBER
The term "cholinergic fiber" can be broken down into two parts: "cholinergic" and "fiber".
1. Cholinergic: The root word "choline" refers to a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is involved in various functions of the nervous system, including muscle movement, memory, and cognitive processes. The suffix "-ergic" signifies "relating to" or "producing".
2. Fiber: In this context, "fiber" refers to the nerve fibers or axons that transmit signals within the nervous system.
Therefore, "cholinergic fiber" refers to nerve fibers that utilize acetylcholine as their primary neurotransmitter to transmit signals or information within the nervous system.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
