concept 3a Flashcards
(158 cards)
neurons
specialized cells capable of transmitting electrical impulses and then translating those electrical impulses into chemical signals
anatomy of the neuron
have a nuclei located in the cell body (soma)
dendrites branching off of the soma
axon hillock is the narrowing of the soma as it enters the axon, signal is integrated
axon is long appendage that terminates near target cell, carries the action potential
myelin sheath and Schwann cells surround the axon to help transmit the action potential
action potential jumps between the myelin sheath to areas called nodes of Ranvier
nerve terminal at the end of the axon to transmit signal to next cell
cell body
location of the nuclei, endoplasmic reticulum, and the ribosomes
dendrites
appendages of the soma
receive incoming messages from other cells
this info is transmitted to the cell body before reaching the axon hillock where the signal is integrated
myelin sheath
insulation around the axon
prvent signal loss or crossing of signals
increase the speed of conduction in the axon
myelin is produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNA and Schwann cells in the PNS
nodes of Ranvier
small breaks in the myelin sheath with exposed areas of axon membrane
critical for rapid signal conduction
action potentials jump from one break to the next for conduction of signal
nerve terminal
synaptic bouton (knob)
end of the axon
enlarged and flattened to maximize neurotransmission to the next neuron and proper release of neurotransmitters
these are the chemicals that transmit info b/w neurons
synaptic cleft
space b/w neurons where terminal portion of the axon releases neurotransmitters which bind to the dendrites of the postsynaptic neuron
synapse
the nerve terminal, synaptic cleft, and postsynaptic membrane
neurotransmitters released from the axon terminal traverse the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron
nerve
multiple neurons bundled together in the peripheral nervous system
nerves may be sensory, motor, or mixed and these are related to the type of info they carry
cell bodies are clustered into ganglia
tracts
axons bundled together in the central nervous system
only carry one type of information
cell bodies are grouped into nuclei
neuroglia
glial cells
support cells for neurons
responsible for function such as holding neurons in place, supplying neurons w/ oxygen and nutrients, insulating neurons from other neurons, destroying pathogens, and removing dead neurons
astrocytes
nourish neurons and form the blood-brain barrier, which controls the transmission of solutes form the bloodstream into nervous tissue
ependymal cells
line the ventricles of the brain and produce cerebrospinal fluid, which physically supports the brain and serves as a shock absorber
microglia
phagocytic cells that ingest and break down waste products and pathogens in the central nervous system
oligodendrocytes
in the CNS
produce myelin around the axons
Schwann cells
in the PNS
produce myelin around the axons
action potential
an abrupt change in the membrane potential of a nerve or muscle cause by changes in the membrane ionic permeability
results in conduction of an impulse in nerves or contraction in muscle
all-or-nothing
relay electrical impulses down the axon to the axon terminal
ultimately release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft
resting membrane potential
exhibited by all neurons
there is an electric potential difference b;/w the inside of the neuron and the extracellular space
about -70 mV
inside of neuron being negative relative to outside
inside has more K+ and outside has more Na+
Na+/K+ ATPase
neurons have selective permeability to Na+ and K+ ions
this structure is used to maintain the negative internal environment
important for restoring gradient after action potential has been fired–> it transports 3 Na+ out of the cell for every 2 K+ into the cell using 1 ATP
depolarization
raising the membrane potential from its resting potential
makes neuron more likely to fire an action potential
happens when neuron receives excitatory input
hyperpolarization
lowering the membrane potential from its resting potential
makes neuron less likely to fire an action potential
happens when neuron receives inhibitory input
threshold
the lowest magnitude of stimulus strength that will induce a response
usually around -55 to -40 mV
when axon hillock receives enough excitatory input to be depolarized
once this is reached an action potential will be triggered
summation
additive effects of multiple signals that can reach threshold and create and action potential
2 types: temporal and spatial