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Neural Processes > Cells of the Nervous System > Flashcards

Cells of the Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

Molecules

A

two or more atoms held together by a chemical bond

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2
Q

4 families of molecules

A
  • simple sugars
  • fatty acids
  • amino acids
  • nucleotides
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3
Q

Neurons

A

responsible for sending and receiving neurotransmitters

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4
Q

Classification of neurons

A
  • shapes/number of appendages
  • function (afferent/efferent)
  • direction of action potential
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5
Q

afferent communication

A

Sensory signals from PNS to CNS
bottom-up
from body to brain

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6
Q

efferent communication

A

Motor signals from CNS to PNS
top-down
from brain to body

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7
Q

Motor/Efferent Neurons

A

from the CNS to PNS
- final neurons in action sequence
- 2 types are alpha and gamma

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8
Q

Afferent/Sensory

A

from sensory receptors in body towards the CNS
- first neurons in sensory sequence
- “arriving”

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9
Q

Interneurons

A

transmit impulses between other neurons
- determine place & time of response

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10
Q

Components of neuron (also study diagram)

A
  • cell body/soma with nucleus
  • axon
  • axon terminal
  • dendrite
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11
Q

Cell body (SOMA)

A
  • contains genetic info
  • maintains neuron integrity/structure
  • regulates production of proteins/lipids
  • holds nucleus
  • ER, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria
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12
Q

Axon

A
  • long, thin, spindly (susceptible to damage)
  • action potentials generated here
  • covered in myelin
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13
Q

Axon Region includes

A

Axon Hillocks
Axon telodendria
Axon terminals

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14
Q

Axon Hillocks (initial segment)

A

the ‘manager’ summing total inhibitory/excitatory signals to determine if action potentials release

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15
Q

Axon telodendria

A

end branches of an axon

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16
Q

Axon terminals

A

swollen end of telodendra, transmits message to other cells via neurotransmitters

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17
Q

Dendrites

A
  • receives data from other neurons
  • collects/stores incoming info from axon terminals
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18
Q

Cytoplasm

A

jelly like fluid found within cell body - but outside the nucleolus
- function in transport
- maintain cell shape
- protect/host metabolic process

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19
Q

Similarities of Neurons to other cells

A
  • membrane
  • nucleus
  • cytoplasm, mitochondria, organelles
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20
Q

Differences of Neurons to other cells

A
  • specialized projections
  • communicate with each other thru electrochemical process
  • can be long (several feet)
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21
Q

2 phases of communication

A

Electrical and Chemical

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22
Q

Electrical phase

A

dendrites and axons

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23
Q

Chemical phase

A

neurotransmitters and synaptic cleft

24
Q

Impulses of neurons

A

Electric currents/action potentials
- excitatory (go)
- inhibitory (no go)

25
Q

Synapses

A

tiny gaps where specialized parts of 2 neurons allow for chemical communication
- electric signals within neuron
- chemical signals between neurons

26
Q

Neuronal Communication

A

presynaptic neuron sends the info
postsynaptic neuron receives info

27
Q

Action potential

A

created electrical signal during neuronal communication
- triggers release of neurotransmitter
- chemical moves into synaptic cleft

28
Q

Neurotransmitter binds to..

A

receptor on postsynaptic neuron, causes ion channels to open

29
Q

Opening of ion channels allows

A

charged particles to cross membrane of that neuron causing electrical charge to form in postsynaptic neuron

30
Q

Polarization

A

different electrical charges inside vs. outside of neurons
- inside (at rest) about -65 aka resting membrane potential
- outside is neutral (zero)

31
Q

Hyper polarized

A
  • resting membrane potential becomes more negative
  • less likely to generate/send a signal
32
Q

Depolarized

A
  • resting membrane potential becomes better heading toward positive (still negative numbers)
  • more likely to generate/send signal
33
Q

Two different gradients of membrane potential

A
  1. Electrical gradient
  2. ion concentration
34
Q

Electrical gradient

A

ions want to decrease their concentration gradients
- positives move towards negatives to make the ‘area’ more positive

35
Q

Ion concentration

A

move down concentration gradient from high to low

36
Q

3 ions to understand

A

Sodium (Na+)
Potassium (K+)
Calcium (Ca2+)

Inside cell more K
Outside cell more Na and Ca

37
Q

Passive transport

A

When ion channels open, ions move freely based on their tendency for concentration gradient

38
Q

Ionotropic (Ligand-gated)

A

opens in response to neurotransmitters, binds to receptor in CNS & PNS

39
Q

Mechanically gated

A

opens to mechanical displacement of cell membrane

40
Q

Voltage gated

A

opens when electrical charge reaches threshold

41
Q

Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential

A

neurotransmitter opens sodium channel, sodium moves into neuron
- potential to cause depolarization

42
Q

Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential

A

neurotransmitter opens potassium channel, potassium moves out of neuron
- beings to hyperpolarize

43
Q

Battle between EPSP and IPSP

A

summation: if enough Na+ channels are opened and threshold reached -50, action potential is created, signal sent down axon
- if threshold not met, neuron doesn’t fire

44
Q

Exocytosis

A
  • release from presynaptic neuron axon terminals
  • neurotransmitter spills into synaptic cleft and binds to receptors of postsynaptic neuron
  • either inhibitory or excitatory
45
Q

Resting potential

A

electrical difference between inside and outside membrane when neuron is not excited

46
Q

Action potential

A

rapid rise (depolarization) in potential follows by return to resting state

47
Q

graded potential

A

localized, small depolarizations could AP if meet threshold

48
Q

Saltatory conduction

A

rapid method where nerve impulses move down myelinated axon
- exception occurs at nodes of ranvier
- jumping of current from node to node
- nodes contain Na&K channels
- myelin allows rapid movement of signal

49
Q

What happens at the synapse

A
  • action potential reaches bouton terminal
  • release of chemical transmitter substance from synaptic vesicles
  • causes next neuron to change charge
50
Q

Intellectual Disability

A

formerly known as mental retard.
- IQ under 70
- occurs before 18
- substantial limitations in funciton
- dendritic spine differences (long, thin)

51
Q

Brain tumors

A

Benign (non-cancer) 44%
Malignant (cancer) 56%

origin is primary brain tumors or metastatic brain tumors

52
Q

Types of malignant brain tumors

A

Neuromas (neurons)
Gliomas (glial cells)
- astrocytoma
- oligodendroglioma
- schwannoma

53
Q

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

A

Lou Gehrig’s Disease
- Motor neuron disorder (MND)
- Withering of upper & lower M.N
- onset 40-60 y/o
no cure

54
Q

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

A

“multiple scarring”
- Autoimmune disorder (unkown)
- Myelin around axon is damages
No cure

55
Q

Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

A

“grave muscle weakness”
- Neurological disease of neuromuscular junction
- Affects women in 30s men in 50s
- Weakness and fatigue
NO CURE

56
Q

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

A
  • rapid, progressive demyelinating PNS
  • most common is autoimmune
  • progressive paralysis then recover
  • most experience complete recovery
    No cure

Neural Processes (14 decks)

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