8.4 Electrical Signals And Neural Pathways Flashcards
uneven distribution of charge means that the cell membrane is
polarized
in an unsimulated (or resting) cell, the uneven charge distibution is called
resting membrane potential
a small voltage difference
potential
3 main factors generating the resting membrane potential
(1) a higher concentration of K+ immediately inside the cell membrane
(2) a higher concentration of Na+ immediately outside the membrane
(3) grater permeability of the cell membrance to K+ than Na+
protein embedded in the cell membrane
ion channels
always open
leak channels
closed until opened by specific signals
Gated channels
opened by neurotransmitters or other chemicals
Chemically gated channels
opened by a change in membrane potential
Voltage-gated channels
point of equilibrium at which the tendency for K+ to move down its concentration gradient out of the cell is balanced by the negative charge within the cell
restin membrane potential
required to maintain the greater concentration of Na+ outside the cell membrane and K+ inside
sodium-potassium pump
the resting membrane potential changes in response ti stimuli that activate gated ion channels
excitable celle
channels responsible for the action potential
voltage gated Na+ and K+ channels
movement of Na+ which causes the inside of the cell membrane to become positive
local current
a change in which the inside of the cell is positive
depolarization
Depolarization results in
a local potential
causes voltage-gated Na+ channels to open
threshold depolarization
depolarization and repolarization constitue an
action potential
condition when the charge on the cell membrane briefly becomes more negative than the resting membrane potential
hyperpolarization
If threshold is reached, an action potential occurs; if the threshold is not reached, no action potential occurs
all-or-non fashion
type of action potential conduction wherein the action potential is conducted along the entire axon cell membrane
continuous conduction
wherein action potentials “jump” from one node of Ranvier to the next along the length of the axon
saltatory conduction
a junction where the axon of one neuron interacts with another neuron or with cells of an effector organ, such as a muscle or gland
synapse
end of the axon forms a
presynaptic terminal