CH2: Communication Within the Nervous System Flashcards
What are neurons?
Cells that convey sensory information into the brain, carry out operations, and transmit commands to the body
What do motor neurons do?
Carries commands to the muscles and organs
What do sensory neurons do?
Carry information from the body and outside world into brain and spinal cord
What do interneurons do?
Neurons which connect one neuron to another in the same part of brain or spinal cord
What is polarization?
A state in which there is a difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of the neuron
What is voltage?
Measure of the difference in electrical charge between two points
What is resting potential?
Difference in charge between inside and outside of membrane of a neuron at rest
What are ions?
Atoms that have lost or gained electrons
What are positive ions?
Na+, K+
What are negative ions?
Cl-, A-
What moves the ions?
- Force of diffusion
- Electrostatic pressure
- Sodium potassium pump
What is force of diffusion?
Tendency of ions to move through membrane to less concentrated side
What is electrostatic pressure?
A force where ions are repelled from similarly charged attracted to oppositely charged
What is a sodium potassium pump?
Large protein molecules that move sodium ions through cell membrane to outside, potassium ions back inside
What are ion channels?
Gated pores in the membrane formed by proteins