GIANT NERVE CELLS OF SQUID Flashcards
(5 cards)
Why is it easier to study giant nerve cells of squids?
Squid axons and synapses are large enough to allow observations and experiments that are impossible on most other nerve cells.
What is the general size of the axons in giant nerve cells in squids?
1 mm in diameter which is 100 to 1000 times larger than mammalian axons.
What did the first experiments yield?
First recordings of action potentials.
Why are neurons larger in squids?
They evolved for survival. Larger axonal diameter allows for faster conduction of action potentials, thus allowing faster the squid to escape from enemies.
What is the structure of squid neurons?
1st-level and 2nd-level neurons originate from the brain while 3rd-level are in the stellate ganglion and go on to innervate the rest of the body. The 2nd-level neuron branches into giant synapses that each synapse with a 3rd-level neuron.