Axonal Transmission Flashcards
Describe the basic components of a neuron
-Cell body = contains Nucleus, ribosomes, cytoplasm, mitochondria
-Dendrites
-Axon
-Presynaptic terminals
(aprox 10^9 neurons in the brain)
Name 3 types of neuron
- Interneuron
- Motor neuron
- Sensory neuron
What is axonal transmission?
Transmission of info from location A to location B
What is synaptic transmission?
Integration/Processing of infomation
What occurs in multiple sclerosis?
Axonal transmission failure due to auto immune disease causing myelination degeneration
Name some symptoms of MS? Why are they so varied?
- Eye movements, uncontrolled, double vision
- Speech, slurred
- Paralysis, partial/complete
- Temor
- Lack of concentration
- Weakness, tired
- Sensory, numbness, prickling pain
Different axons are attacked (by autoimmune, trigger by virus?) this causes varied symptoms
Why is MS hard to diagnose? Who does it usually affect?
- Early symptoms are slight
- Other disease have similar symptoms
- No current lab test
- MS usually affects people aged 20-40
- Affects more women than men
- Often temperate zones
- Areas of high sanitation
Describe neronal action potential
- Final resting potential is -70mv, Na+/K+ pump means than 3 Na+ are pumped out for 2 K+ pumped in
- K+ and Cl- can move in and out according to diffusion and electrostatic pressures
- Na+ channels open, causing Na+ influx = depolarisation to +30mv
- K+ channels open causing K+ outflux = repolarisation
- Na+ channels begin to close (return to normal, some sodium leaks in at resting potential)
- K+ channels begin to close (return to normal)
What is relative refractory period?
A period of time shortly after action potential when greater than normal stimulation can cause a second action potential to occur
What is absolute refractory period?
A period of time straight after action potential when a second action potential cannot occur
How does myelination affect speed of transmission? What is this conduction called?
Saltatory conduction
myelination = speed
Describe the mechanism of saltatory conduction?
Action potential jumps along unmyelinated nodes of Ranvier
How do excitatory neurotransmitters affect the resting potential?
- Neurotransmitters activate receptors on dendrites
- Opens ion channeles
- Causes depolarisation
- Increases chance of action potential (chance of reaching threshold of excitation)
- This action potential is called an EXCITATORY POST SYNAPTIC POTENTIAL
How do inhibitory neurotransmitters affect the resting potential?
- Neurotransmitters activate receptors on dendrites
- Opens ion channeles
- Causes hyperpolarisation
- decreases chance of action potential (chance of reaching threshold)
- This is called an INHIBITORY POST SYNAPTIC POTENTIAL
What is temporal summation?
When there is a high frequency of action potentials and so they overlap and summate with each other
What is spatial summation?
When there is input from multiple presynaptic cells