Human Physiology (Exam 1) Flashcards
Where does the production of neurotransmitters take place?
Soma of the neuron
Which direction does Anterograde Fast Axonal Transport occur? and which protein facilitates this?
Transport occurs from soma to synaptic terminal. Kinesin facilitates the movement of vesicles.
Which direction does Retrograde Fast Axonal Transport occur? and which protein facilitates this?
Transport occurs from axon terminals to the soma. Dynein facilitates the movement of vesicles.
What are three ways in which the breakdown of neurotransmitter occurs?
- It gets reuptaken by the presynaptic cell.
- It diffuses into the synaptic cleft.
- It is broken down by microglial cells.
What is the stage of the voltage gated sodium channel at RMP?
The activation gate is closed and the inactivation gate is open.
What is the stage of the voltage gated sodium channel as depolarization occurs?
The activation gate is opening and the inactivation gate is open.
What is the stage of the voltage gated sodium channel at the peak of depolarization and during repolarization?
The activation gate closes and the inactivation gate also closes.
Where do action potentials get triggered and why?
Action potentials are triggered at the trigger zone, for VGNa+C exist here. This allows rapid influx of sodium causing a change in membrane potential.
What is Local current flow?
The movement of charged ions by concentration gradient of the ion or the electrical gradient.
What is excitatory post synaptic potential (EPSP)?
This is the process in which a post synaptic neuron can be triggered due to rapid influx of sodium ions from
What is summation?
This is when graded potentials can generate an action potential this can occur when a response is strong enough to depolarize a neuron to threshold.
Spatial summation
The addition of graded potentials from various synaptic transmissions. (Difference in area)
Temporal summation
The addition of graded potentials due to a single synaptic transmission causing multiple graded potentials.
What is the refractory period? and why is it important?
This is the time period in a neuron which a NEW action potential cannot be generated. This usually lasts from depolarization completion of hyperpolarization. This is important because it prevents the constant firing of neurons.
