Overview of the Nervous System Flashcards
What are the three nerve types in the nervous system?
Afferent nerve fibre
Efferent nerve fibre
Interneuron
What cells make up the glia?
Astrocytes
Ependymal cells
oligodendrocytes
microglia
Why is treating brain associated conditions difficult?
Drugs can’t cross the blood brain barrier
How do neurons differ from normal cells?
Specialised extensions - dendrites and axons
Communicate with each other through electrochemical processes
Contains synapses and neurotransmitters
What shapes can neurons come in?
Unipolar
Bipolar
Pseudounipolar
Multipolar
What are interneurons?
conduits between afferent and efferent neurons
What is the resting membrane potential of a cell?
-70mV
How does the Na+/K+ pump works?
Three out
Two in
Where are the electrodes placed to measure voltage?
One inside the axon, one in the ECF
Define depolarise, repolarise, hyperpolarise
Depolarise - becomes less negative
Repolarise - returns to RMP
Hyperpolarise - becomes more negative
Is hyperpolarisation excitatory or inhibitory?
Inhibitory
Is depolarisation excitatory or inhibitory?
Excitatory
What is the order of an action potential?
Stimulus
Threshold reached
Depolarisation
Action potential
Repolarisation
Refractory
Resting State
Why is intracellular fluid negative compared to extracellular fluid?
Presence of protein and ATP
What is the Nernst equation and what does it calculate?
E = 60logCo/Ci
Equilibrium potential for an ion
