Midterm Practice

Question 1

Name two factors that contribute to the degradation of ESPS’s as they travel.

Answer 1

Distance from soma

Internal resistance

Membrane resistance/conductance

Question 2

Name two ways that the rate of AP propagation can be increased.

Answer 2

Increased axonal diameter, increased membrane resistance, myelination

Question 3

Explain why the AP only goes in one direction

Answer 3

V-gated N’a+ channels inactivate as the potential becomes more positive. They cannot open again until they are deinactivated. —> refractory period prevents bidirectional propagation

Question 4

What is the function of astrocytes?

Answer 4

Regulate the extra cellular space around neurons

Question 5

What is the function of microglia?

Answer 5

Immune cells

Question 6

What is the function of ependymal cells?

Answer 6

Make CSF