5.3 Neuronal communication Flashcards
What is a synapse
Junction between two neurones
What chemical transmit impulses across synapse
Neurotransmitters
What is the function of synapses
Electrical impulses that cannot cross junction
Neurotransmitters send impulses between neurones/from neurones to effectors for excitatory or inhibitory response
Summation of sub threshold impulses
Describe the structure of a synapse
Presynaptic neurone ends in synaptic knob- lots of mitochondria, ER and vesicles of neurotransmitters
Synaptic cleft- gap which separates the axon of one neurone from the dendrite of the next neurone
What happens in the presynaptic neurone when an action potential is transmitted between neurones
Wave of depolarisation travels down presynaptic neurone, causing voltage gated calcium channels to open
Vesicles move towards and fuse with presynaptic membrane
Exocytosis of neurotransmitter into synaptic cleft
How do neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft
Simple diffusion
What happens in the postsynaptic neurone when an action potential is transmitted between neurones
Neurotransmitter binds to specific receptor on postsynaptic membrane
Sodium ion channels open
If influx of sodium ions raises membrane to threshold potential,action potential is generated.
What features are common to all sensory receptors
Act as energy transducers which establish a generator potential
Respond to specific stimuli
Describe the features of all neurones
Cell body - contains organelles and high proportion of RERR
Dendrons- branch into dendrites which caddy impulses towards the cell body
Axon - long,unbranched fibre carries nerve impulses away from cell body
Describe the structure and function of a sensory neurone
Usually unipolar
Transmits impulses from receptors to CNS
Describe the structure and function of a relay neurone
Usually bipolar
Transmits impulses between neurones
Describe the structure and function of a motor neurone
Multipolar
Transmits impulses from the relay neurones in the CNS to effectors
Describe the additional features of a myelinated neurone
Schwann cells- Wrap around axons
Myelin sheath- made from myelin rich membranes
Nodes of Ranvier- very short gaps between neighbouring Schwann cells where there is no myelin sheath
What 3 process Schwann cells are involved in
Electrical insulation
Phagocytosis
Nerve regeneration
What is resting potential
Potential difference(voltage) across neurone membrane when not stimulated Usually about -70mV in humans
How is resting potential established
Membrane is more permeable to K+ than Na+
Sodium potassium pump actively transports 3Na+ out of cell and 2k+ into cell
Requires ATP energy from respiration
Name the stages in generating an action potential
Depolarisation
Repolarisation
Hyper polarisation
Return to resting potential
What happens during de polarisation
Stimulus -> causes facilitated diffusion of sodium ions into cell down electrochemical gradient
p.d across membrane becomes more positive
If membrane reaches threshold potential of -50mv voltage gates Na+ channel opens
What happens during REpolarisation
Voltage-gated sodium ion channels close and voltage-gates K+ channel open
Facilitated diffusion of K+ ions out of cell down their electromechanical gradient
p.d across membrane becomes more negative
What happens during hyperpolarisation
- ‘Overshoot’ when K+ ions diffuse out =
What is resting potential
Resting axon on where the inside of axon always have a negative electrical potential compared to the outside of axon
What is the potential difference of resting potential
-70mV
Lower than the outside of the axon
What two factors are considered for the establishment of resting potential
Active transport of sodium and potassium ions
Differential membrane permeability
Explain the process of the AT of sodium and potassium ions
Uses carrier protein called sodium and potassium pump, present in membranes of neurone
Uses ATP , 3 sodium ions out for every 2 potassium ion in
More positive ions outside the axon
Creates electrochemical gradient
Explain the differential membrane permeability have on resting potential
Allow sodium and potassium ion to move via facilitated diffusion
Protein channels less permeable to sodium ions then potassium ions
Potassium faster rate > sodium