ch. 48 part 2 Flashcards
action potentials
- carry electrical signals along an axon
- all-or-none - not graded
- actively propagated
actively propagated
regenerates itself as it travels
action potential sequences
- graded potential depolarizes to threshold potential (-50mV)
- voltage-gated Na+ channels open and trigger action potential
- Na+ rapidly diffuses into cell causing spike
- inactivation when gate in Na+ channel swings shut when membrane positively polarized
threshold potential
-50 mV
resting potential
-70 mV
when do voltage-gated K+ channels open
1 sec later than Na+ channels
opening of K+ channels for hyperpolarization
- voltage-gated K+ channels open by threshold potential
- K+ leaves cell and membrane becomes negative again
- membrane hyperpolarizes
- voltage-gated K+ channels close and resting potential restored
where do graded potentials reach threshold potential
axon hillock
what do graded potentials trigger just beyond the hillock region
opening of voltage-gated Na+ channels
what does the sequential opening of Na+ channels do?
conduct a wave of depolarization from axon hillock to axon terminal
what does the inactivation gate of Na+ channels do?
prevent backward movement toward cell body
absolute refractory period
- while Na+ gate is closed, cell is unresponsive to another stimulus
- limit on frequency of action potentials
- ensures action potential does not move backward toward cell body
relative refractory period
- K+ channels still open
- membrane hyperpolarizes
- graded potential would have to be huge to reach the threshold
what does speed of conduction depend on
- axon diameter
- myelination
axon diameter and speed
broad axons provide less resistance and action potential moves faster
myelination and speed
- myelination faster than unmyelinated
- oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells
- gaps at nodes of Ranvier
- saltatory conduction
saltatory conduction
action potential seems to “jump” from node to node
synapses
junction where nerve terminal meets a neuron, muscle cell, or gland
order at junction
- presynaptic cell sends signal
- synaptic cleft
- postsynaptic cell receives signal
2 types of synapses
- electrical
- chemical
electrical synapse
electric charge freely flows through gap junctions from cell to cell
chemical synapse
neurotransmitter acts as signal from presynaptic to postsynaptic cell
details of chemical synapse
- presynaptic cell contains vesicles of neurotransmitter
- exocytosis releases neurotransmitter into synaptic cleft
- diffuses across cleft
- binds to channels/receptors in postsynaptic cell membrane
what does binding of a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse do
change membrane potential of postsynaptic cell