C2.2

Question 1

State the function of the following neuron cell parts: dendrites, axon and cell body.

Question 2

Identify the cell body, axon and dendrites in diagrams of typical sensory and motor neurons. ​

Question 3

Define membrane potential.

Question 3

Define resting potential.

Question 4

Outline three mechanisms that together create the resting potential in a neuron.

Question 5

State the voltage of the resting potential.

Question 6

Outline the six steps of sodium-potassium pump action.

Question 7

Define action potential.

Question 7

Explain the difference in nerve impulse speed for myelinated and unmyelinated fibers.

Question 7

Define nerve impulse.

Question 8

State the correlation between conduction speed of nerve impulses and animal size. ​

Question 8

Outline the correlation between conduction speed of nerve impulses and axon diameter.

Question 9

Define synapse, synaptic cleft and effector.

Question 10

List examples of effector cells.

Question 11

State that a signal can only pass in one direction across a typical synapse.

Question 12

State the role of neurotransmitters.

Question 13

Outline the mechanism of synaptic transmission occurring at a presynaptic cell, including the role of depolarization, calcium ions, exocytosis and diffusion.

Question 13

State that neurotransmitters can either be excitatory or inhibitory.​​

Question 14

Outline the mechanism of synaptic transmission occurring at a post-synaptic cell, including the role of neurotransmitters, diffusion, receptors, gated ion channels, threshold potential and action potential.

Question 15

State that calcium functions as a chemical signal triggering exocytosis of neurotransmitter from a presynaptic cell.

Question 15

State that acetylcholine is one of the most common neurotransmitters in both invertebrates and vertebrates and is used as the neurotransmitter in many synapses including between neurons and muscle fibers.

Question 16

Outline the digestion of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase.

Question 17

State that an action potential is only initiated if the threshold potential is reached.

Question 18

Define depolarization.

Question 19

Outline the mechanism of depolarization during an action potential using voltage gated sodium channels.

Question 20

Define repolarization.

Question 21

Outline the mechanism of repolarization during an action potential using voltage gated potassium channels.

Question 22

Describe the movement of sodium ions in a local current.

Question 23

State that local currents cause each successive part of the axon to reach the threshold potential.

Question 24

Explain how the movement of sodium ions propagates an action potential along an axon.

Question 25

Outline the cause and consequence of the refractory period after depolarization.

Question 26

Outline the use of oscilloscopes in measuring membrane potential.

Question 27

Annotate an oscilloscope trace to show the resting potential, action potential (depolarization and repolarization), threshold potential and refractory period.

Question 28

Deduce the number of nerve impulses per second from an oscilloscope trace.

Question 28

Describe the structure of a myelinated nerve fiber.

Question 28

Outline how the myelination of neurons allows for saltatory conduction, in which the differences in the distribution of electrically charged ions across the membrane can effectively jump from node of Ranvier to node of Ranvier.

Question 29

State that in myelinated neurons, the gated and non-gated Na+ and K+ ion channels are clustered down the axon at nodes of Ranvier.

Question 30

Define exogenous chemicals.

Question 31

Outline the effects of neonicotinoids on synaptic transmission.

Question 32

Outline the effects of cocaine on synaptic transmission.

Question 33

Compare inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters.

Question 34

Outline the inhibitory mechanism of the neurotransmitter GABA.

Question 35

Outline the consequence of hyperpolarization by inhibitory neurotransmitters.

Question 36

Describe the effects of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters on the ability of a postsynaptic cell to reach its threshold potential.

Question 37

Define summation.

Question 38

Interpret graphical representations of the summation of combinations of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters.

Question 39

Describe the mechanism by which environmental stimuli are able to activate nerve endings in the skin, including the role of receptor proteins, ions channels, and threshold potential.

Question 39

Define emergent property.

Question 39

List stimuli which can trigger a pain response.

Question 39

Outline the flow of information during the pain response. ​

Question 40

State that new properties emerge at each level of biological organization.

Question 41

Outline consciousness as an emergent property.