Chapter 5: The Neuron Flashcards
CNS
central nervous system- brain, spinal cord (interneurons)
no nerves, instead, analogous structures known as tracts
neural tube-> precursor
PNS
peripheral nervous system- afferent and efferent neurons
in spinal cord:
dorsal root- afferent
ventral root- efferent
afferent neurons
sensory neurons; pick up stimulus through sensory receptors, transmit to interneurons (usually) in CNS
usually have one axon with 2 branches (no dendrites from cell body):
- peripheral branch: from cell body to periphery (skin, joint, muscle)
- central branch: from cell body to spinal cord
sensory receptors/neuronal endings can be encapsulated or free
ex. pacinian corpuscle: in skin, encapsulated: detects vibration/pressure and discerns rough/smooth feeling
efferent neurons
carry response signal so that response can be carried out
ex. motor neuron (carries signals to skeletal muscle)
information processing in the nervous system
Sense, Integrate, Act (SIA)
stimulus -> (reception) afferent neurons -> (transmission) -> interneurons -> (integration) interneurons -> (transmission) efferent neurons -> (response) effectors -> action
neuron
a type of cell
anatomy:
dendrites
cell body (soma)
nucleus
axon hillock
axon
axon terminals
nerve
cordlike structure that contains many axons (fibers)
provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses transmitted along each of the axons, (31 pairs of spinal nerves)
only found in PNS. in CNS -> tracts (analogous structures)
interneurons
integrate information, formulate a response
part of CNS
nerve
cordlike structure with many axons (fibers)
provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons
31 pairs of spinal nerves in humans
ONLY found in PNS
ex. radial nerve: supplies the triceps brachial muscle and all 12 muscles in the posterior osteofascial compartment of the forearm, associated joints, and overlying skin
white matter
myelinated (has fatty layer to insulate electrical impulses) axons and glial cells
glial cells (neuroglia)
non-neuronal cells that provide nutrition and support to neurons
examples:
ependymal cells
microglia
astrocytes
schwann cells
oligodendrocytes
ependymal cells
glial cell, produces cerebrospinal fluid
microglia
glial cell. phagocytic cell that ingests and breaks down pathogens and waste products in the CNS
astrocytes
glial cell in CNS. cover surfaces of blood vessels (structural support)
help maintain ion concentrations in interstitial fluid surrounding them
satellite cells have similar function but work in the PNS
schwann cells
form myelin sheath in PNS
oligodendrocytes
form myelin sheath in CNS
myelin sheath
have high lipid content; serve to insulate the electrical impulse as it travels along an axon (white color)
node of ranvier
gaps in the myelin that expose the axon membrane directly to extracellular fluid
speed the rate at which electrical impulses move along axons
signal conduction in the neuron (regions/terminals)
presynaptic region/terminal- transmitting
postsynaptic region- receiving
axon hillock
emerges out from the soma of the neuron
high concentration of voltage activated Na channels
considered the “spike initiation zone” for action potentials
multiple signals (from presynaptic neuronal terminals) are generated at the dendrites and transmitted by the soma. converge at axon hillock
synapse
junction between axon terminals of a neuron and the receiving cell (another neuron, muscle fiber, gland cell)
2 types of synapses: electrical and chemical
variability of synapses
allows for modulation of transmission
axodendritic synapse: axon to dendrites
axosomatic: axon to soma/cell body
axoaxonic: axon and axon meet
electrical synapses
found in pulp of tooth, heart muscle tissue, smooth muscle
plasma membranes of pre and postsynaptic cells make direct contact through connexon proteins. ions flow through gap junctions that connect both membranes, allowing impulses to pass through
important where uniform contractile activity among a group of cells is needed (action potential transferred such that tissue acts like one cell)
faster than chemical synapse
chemical synapse
plasma membrane of presynaptic and postsynaptic cells are separated by narrow synaptic cleft. neurotransmitter molecules diffuse across cleft and bind to receptors in the postsynaptic cell. this opens channels to ion flow that may generate an impulse in the postsynaptic cell
better modulated than electrical synapse
- allow neurons to receive inputs from numerous axon terminals at same time