Action potential Flashcards
What are all activities in amoeba coordinated by?
Nucleus
What type of cell is amoeba?
Simple unicellular protist
What sub kingdom is amoeba in?
Phylum Protozoa
What is the unit of structure of CNS?
Neuron
What is the neuron doctrine proposed by?
Cajal
What do neurons need to do?
Need to send signals rapidly over long distances (e.g. Sciatic nerve)
What do nerves generate?
Generate electrical signals - the nerve impulse or action potential
Plasma membrane structure diameter
6-10 nm
What is the plasma membrane (layer)
Lipid bilayer
What is the bilayer composed of?
- Phospholipids
- Glycolipids
- Cholesterol
- Membrane proteins
Diffusion
high [solute] → low [solute]
Osmosis
high [H2O] → low [H2O]
What do osmosis and diffusion depend on?
Concentration gradient (Δc) Membrane permeability (P) Substance properties Particle size Lipid solubility
What is the rate of diffusion governed by? (law)
Fick’s law
What are the two types of substance transport?
- Facilitated diffusion (Passive)
- Active transport
Describe facilitated diffusion
Channels - water filled pores that allow for ion movements along their gradients. Their openings can be regulated (gating), have ion-selectivity (e.g. Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca2+, cations etc.
What are the two active transport processes?
- ATPases
- Exchangers
Describe exchangers in active transport
Movement of 1 substance along its gradient is coupled to movement of another against its gradient (Na+-Ca2+ exchanger, Na+ Glucose co-transporter
How can neurons respond to various stimuli?
By altering electrical charge across their membrane
What are the main ions in membrane potential?
- K+
- Na+
- Ca2+
- Cl-
What type of charge does the interior of a cell have in comparison to outside and why?
A relative negative net charge in comparison to outside of the cell due to ionic composition of cytoplasm
What type of charge does the interior of a cell have in comparison to outside and why?
A relative negative net charge in comparison to outside due to ionic composition of cytoplasm
Electrical potential
Difference in charge between inside and outside
What is the electrical gradient influenced by?
By overall electrical charge
What is the chemical gradient influenced by?
By individual concentration of a particular ion
Movement of electrical gradient
Positive ions would flow towards areas of negative charge
Movement of chemical gradient
All ions move from areas of high to low concentration
What will the direction an ion moves depend on?
- Overall net effect of electrical and chemical (electrochemical) gradients
- Permeability of membrane to ion
What are the only molecules and gases that can diffuse freely through the cell membrane?
Only lipophilic molecules & gases
What is the Na+/K+ ATPase pump?
Protein complex that spans the membrane; facilitates transport of Na+ and K+ across the plasma membrane
What does the Na+/K+ ATPase pump require? (dependent)
Energy-dependent process; requires ATP cellular source of energy
Why does the Na+/K+ ATPase pump require?
Because it is moving Na+ and K+ against their respective chemical gradients