Structure of Neurons Flashcards
(14 cards)
How many neurons does the brain have?
100 billion - more powerful than anything. Each neutron has 100 synpses
How are we able to do things?
Because neurons communicate with each other
What happens when things go out of balance?
Get psychiatric disorders
What is a dendrite?
Receives information from other neurons - large receptive field
What is a soma?
Cell body - contains the machinery that controls processing in the cell and integrates information
What is an axon?
Carries information in the form on an action potential, from the soma to the terminal boutons, and to other cells
Axons can branch to contact many neurons
What is a terminal bouton?
Found at the end of the axon, location of the synapse, communication point with other neurons
What does the neuronal membrane contain?
Soma, dendrites, axon and terminal boutons
What does the neuron membrane separate?
The extracellular environment from the intracellular environment
What is the membrane made off?
Lipid bilayer
What is the purpose of the neuronal membrane?
To keep certain substances out of the cell and some in - how specific info can reach the neutron
What does the phospholipid bilayer consist of?
Hydrophillic layer - likes water
Hydrophobic layer - hates water
What are most chemicals in our body?
Hydophillic, the membrane stops most of the substances from coming through
What are the proteins in the neuron membrane?
They detect substances outside of the cell - send signals to the inside of the cell
Allow access of certain substances in the cell (gated: chemical or electrical)
Some proteins are cytoskeletal - acts as a framework holding the cell into shape
