Bio Exam 3 Flashcards
Function of nervous system
Receives + processes sensory information both external and internal environments
2 components of mammalian nervous system
Central Nervous System (CNS)- brain + spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) - nerves that transmit messages to CNS
Explain Neurons
Cells that transmit nerve impulses between nervous system
Neuroglia or Glial Cells
Accessory cell type to neurons that aid in their functions.
3 classes of Neurons
Sensory, Motor, and Interneurons
Explain sensory neurons
Take messages to CNS
Explain Motor neurons
Take messages from CNS to an organ, muscle fiber, or gland
Explain Interneurons
Receive info from sensory neurons and/or other interneurons in the CNS
3 main regions of a Neuron + explain
Cell body - contains nucleus
Dendrites - extensions that lead TOWARD cell body that receive signals from other neurons
Axon- conducts nerve impulse away from cell body AWAY from cell body towards cell body
Explain Myelin Sheath
Axonal protective covering
Formed by a glial cell type called Shwann Cells
What are the Nodes of Ranvier
Gaps where there are no Myelin Sheaths
Explain 1st phase of nerve impulse
Resting Potential (-70mV)
Inside of axon negative compared to outside
Explain 2nd phase of nerve impulse
Active/Action Potential Begins (-55 mV)
Rapid change in polarity across axon membrane as impulse occurs
Explain 3rd phase of nerve impulse
Depolarization (+35 mV)
Sodium channels open and Na+ moves inside axon
Explain 4th phase of nerve impulse
Depolarization (-70mV)
Action potential ends
Potassium gates open and K+ moves outside axon
Hyperpolarization can occur, where mV decreases further
As soon as an action potential moves on from region on axon, the previous axonal section goes under a _____
Refractory period
Explain refractory period
Sodium channels unable top open
Prevent backwards flow of action potential
Keep action potential moving forward
Saltatory Conduction
gated ion channels are concentrated on Nodes of Ranvier
Action potential travels faster on myelenated axon
2 ions required for action potential to occur
Sodium Na+ and Potassium K+
Explain Sodium Ion
Important for Depolarization
Flows into axon
+35mV
Explain Potassium Ion
Important for Depolarization
Flows out of Axon
Returns axon to resting potential, -70mV
Explain Synapse
-Every axon branches into many find endings, called an axon terminal
-Each axon terminal lies closely to dendrites or cell body of another nueron = SYNAPSE
-Separated by synaptic cleft
Explain neurotransmitters
Carries out communication between 2 neurons
Stored in synaptic vesicles in axon terminals
Releases Ca^2+ (Calcium Ion)
2 most common neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine (ACh) and Norepinephrine (NE)
DNA - genetic material of life must follow 2 rules:
Be able to store information that pertains to development, structure, and metabolic activities of a cell/organism, AND Stabilize this information so that it can be replicated with high accuracy during cell division and be transmitted from generation to generation
Who officially/unofficially discovered DNA
Official: James Watson + Francis Crick
Unofficial: Rosalind Franklin
Explain structure of DNA
Chain of nucleotides (ACTGs)
-Adenine, Cytosine, Thymine, Guanine
Antiparallel
Explain nucleotides complex
- Phosphate group
- Pentose sugar (deoxyribose)
- Nitrogenous base (ACTG)
Purines (double ringed): A, G
Pyrimidines (single ringed): T, C
Purines should always bond with ___
Pyrimidines
A:T (2 hydrogen bonds)
G:C (3 Hydrogen Bonds)