Chapter 2 (from the slides) Flashcards

1
Q

What is the structure of the neuron?

A
  • contains the soma, dendrites, axon, synapse, and terminal buttons
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2
Q

What is the soma?

A
  • the cell body

- contains the nucleus and much of the machinery that provides life processes to the cell

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3
Q

What are the dendrites?

A
  • the input structures.

- serve as important recipients of the messages between neurons

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4
Q

What is the synapse?

A

messages that pass from neuron to neuron are transmitted across the synapse, a junction between the terminal buttons

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5
Q

What is the axon?

A
  • long, slender tube, often covered by a myelin sheath and carries info from the cell boy to the terminal buttons
  • basic message that it carries is the action potential
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6
Q

What is the terminal button?

A

the bud at the end of the branch of an axon; forms synapses with another neuron, and sends information to that neuron

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7
Q

What is an action potential?

A
  • a brief electrical/chemical event that starts at the end of the axon next to the cell body and travels toward the terminal button
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8
Q

What is a neurotransmitter?

A
  • a chemical that is released by the terminal button; has an excititory or inhibitory effect on another neuron
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9
Q

What is the synaptic connection between neurons?

A
  • generally, signals travel in a single direct at the synapse, from the the terminal button to the dendrites.
  • keep in mind that there are exceptions.
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10
Q

What is the unipolar axon classification?

A
  • one stalk that splits into two branches

- usually sensory related to touch and proprioception

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11
Q

What is the bipolar axon classification?

A
  • one axon, one dendritic tree

- usually non-touch sensory

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12
Q

What is the mltipolar axon classification?

A
  • one axon, and many dendritic branches
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13
Q

What is a nerve?

A
  • it is a bundle of neurons
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14
Q

What is the function of a neuron?

A
  • it carries messages from the environment to he brain
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15
Q

What are sensory neurons?

A
  • neurons that carry messages toward the brain
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16
Q

What are motor neurons?

A
  • neurons that carry messages to the muscles
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17
Q

What are interneurons?

A
  • connect neurons (local & relay)
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18
Q

What is contained in the internal structure of the neuron?

A
  • nucleus, mitochondria, cytoplasm, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, golgi apparatus, microtubles
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19
Q

What is the nucleus?

A
  • structure in the central region of the cell, containing the nucleolous
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20
Q

What is the nucleolus?

A
  • a structure that produces ribosomes
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21
Q

What is a ribosome?

A
  • a cytoplasmic structure, made of protein, serves as the site of production of proteins translated from mRNA
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22
Q

What are chromosomes?

A
  • strand of DNA that carries genetic information
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23
Q

What is a gene?

A
  • functional unit of the chromosome, which directs synthesis of one or more proteins.
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24
Q

What is mitochondria?

A
  • manufactures energy

- produces ATP

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25
Q

What does the goli apparatus do?

A
  • does molecule assembly and packaging
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26
Q

What is cytoplasm?

A
  • liquid in the cell that hold of the neuron structures
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27
Q

What is the function inside the axon?

A
  • fast axoplasmic transport along microtubles

- kinesin molecules walk away from soma; dynein walks towards the soma

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28
Q

What is the function outside of the cell?

A
  • signal transmission via action potential
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29
Q

What are glia cells?

A
  • “glue”.

- provides physical support & insulation, control nutrient flow, and are involved in phagocytosis

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30
Q

What are astrocytes?

A
  • provide physical support, remove debris, and transport nutrients to neurons
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31
Q

What are micrglia?

A
  • involved in phagocytosis and brain immune function
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32
Q

What are oligodendrocytes?

A

p provide physical support and from the myelin sheath around axons in the CNS

  • white fatty packaging (CNS)
33
Q

What are Schwann cells?

A
  • form myelin for PNS axons & guide healing

- Axon can heal in the peripheral nervous system

34
Q

What are the nodes of ranvier?

A
  • exposed part of the axon that is not covered by myelin sheath
35
Q

What is the blood brain barrier?

A
  • it is only selectively permeable.

- its primary function is to maintain the integrity of neuronal transmission

36
Q

Where is the blood brain barrier produced?

A
  • produced by the cells in the walls of the brains capillaries
37
Q

Where is the blood brain barrier more permeable at?

A
  • more permeable at the postrema area
38
Q

What is post trema?

A
  • this is part of the brain that controls vomiting

- toxins and poisons can be released

39
Q

Why does the blood brain barrier exist?

A
  • Transmission of messages from place to place in the brain depends on a delicate balance between substances within neurons and those in the extracellular fluid that surrounds them
  • makes it easier to regular the composition of this fluid
40
Q

What is the process of electrochemical conduction?

A
  • dendrites receive chemical message from adjoining cells
  • chemical messengers activate receptors on the dendritic membrane
  • receptor activation opens an ion channels, which can alter membrane potential
  • action potential can result, and is propagated down the membrane
  • action potential causes release of transmitter from axon terminals
41
Q

What is potential?

A
  • stored up source of energy - electrical energy
42
Q

What is action potential?

A
  • the message that is conducted down the axon that consists of a brief change in the membrane potential from negative to positive back to negative
43
Q

How does action potential occur?

A
  • a rapid reversal of the membrane potential charge provide basis for conduction along an axon
  • the threshold of excitation must be reached in order for this process to occur
44
Q

What is threshold of excitation?

A
  • value of membrane potential that must be reached to produce action potential
45
Q

More action potential explained.

A
  • a brief increase in the permeability of the membrane to NA+ (allowing them to rush in the cell) is immediately followed by a transient increase in the permeability of the membrane to K+ (allowing them to rush out)
  • permeability i create by a protein molecule that proides an opening that permits ions to enter and leave cells
  • these molecules provide ion channels
46
Q

What occurs in hyperpolarization?

A
  • the membrane potential quickly returns to normal, but first it overshoots the resting potential
  • more polarized than usual
47
Q

What are other qualities of action potential?

A
  • this is an “all or none” event: RMP either passes the threshold or not
  • Remains the same size without increase or decrease in size of charge
  • When the axon splits, AP of the same size is conducted down both axons
48
Q

What is the resting potential?

A
  • this is the electrical charge across the membrane

- voltage measures -70mV inside with respect ot the outside

49
Q

What is depolarization?

A
  • since the inside of the axon has a negative charge, when a positive charge is applied to the inside of the cell this process occurs
  • it takes away some of the negative charge, reducing the membrane potential
50
Q

What is diffusion?

A
  • ion disperse in a medium to an equal distribution of concentration
  • when there are no forces or barriers to prevent them from doing so, molecules will diffuse from regions of high concentration to regions of low concentration
51
Q

What is electrostatic pressure?

A
  • ions disperse in a medium to an equal distribution of electrical charges
52
Q

What is intracellular fluid?

A
  • fluid within the cells

- has higher levels of organic anions (A-) and Potassium ions (K+)

53
Q

What is extracellular fluid?

A
  • fluid outside of the cells

- Has higher levels of Chloride ions (Cl-) and Sodium ions (Na+)

54
Q

What keeps potassium and chloride levels balanced?

A
  • force of diffusion and electrostatic pressure
55
Q

Are forces balanced with sodium?

A
  • No, both want to go into the cell

- sodium-potential transporter exchanges NA+ and K+ , pushing 3 sodium ions out for very two potassium ions they push in

56
Q

What does it mean when we say that Na+ and K+ ion channels are voltage dependent?

A
  • they open and close as a function of the membrane potential but their threshold is not the same!
57
Q

What is the function of the sodium-potassium pump?

A
  • address energy of sodium getting inside of the cell
58
Q

Describe the action potential process in regards to Na+ and K+

A
  • Sodium rushes in, potassium comes out a little, sodium channels become refractory and no more sodium enters the cells, more potassium is released and stays at rest, finally, a return of negative polarity occurs
59
Q

What occurs with action potential in a myenilated axon?

A
  •  The only place where a myelinated axon comes into contact with the extracellular fluid is at the node of Ranvier, where the axon is naked
  • no inward flow Na+ when sodium channels open because there is no extracellular sodium
  • • Axon conducts electrical disturbance from the action potential to the next node of Ranvier
  • triggers a new action potential at each node
  • expend less energy to maintain sodium balance
  • action potential is faster in a myelinated axon
60
Q

What is saltatory conduction?

A
  • action potential “jumps” from node to node in this particular case
  • speeds of up the AP velocity
61
Q

What is the presynaptic membrane?

A
  • membrane of the terminal button that lies adjacent to the postsynaptic membrane and through which neurotransmitter is released
62
Q

What is the postsynaptic membrane?

A
  • cell membrane opposite terminal button in synapse; membrane of cell that receives messages
63
Q

What is the synaptic cleft?

A
  • space between the pre and postsynaptic membranes
64
Q

What are post-synaptic potentials?

A
  • produced by neuro transmitters
  • brief depolarization or hyperpolarzations that increase or decrease he rate of firing of the axon of the postsyanptic neuron
65
Q

What is the binding site?

A
  • when neurotransmitters attach to a particular region of a receptor molecule
66
Q

Where are three places in which synapses occur>

A
  • on the dendrites (axodendritic)
  • on the soma (axosomatic)
  • on the axons (axoaxonic)
67
Q

What are the two prominent structures in the cytoplasm of the terminal button and what do they do?

A
  • mitochondria: terminal button needs energy to perform
  • synaptic vesicles: contains 2 types
    • small: contain molecules of the neurotransmitter produced by the golgi apparatus
    • microtubles: responsible for transporting material between soma and terminal button
68
Q

How do molecules of the neurotransmitter produce a depolarization or hyperpolarization in the postsynaptic membrane?

A
  • They do so by diffusing across the synaptic cleft and attaching to the binding sits of special protein molecules located in the postsynaptic membrane
69
Q

What happens when binding occurs in depolarization or hyperpolarization?

A
  • Once binding occurs, postsynaptic receptors open neurotransmitter-dependent ion channels, which permit the passage of specific ions into or out of the cell
70
Q

What is direct ion channel opening?

A
  • when a molecule of the appropriate neurotransmitter attaches to it, the ion channel opens
    o Formal name for this combination receptor/ ion channel: ionotropic receptor
     Sensitive to acetylcholine
     Contain sodium channels
     When open, sodium enters and depolarizes membrane
71
Q

what is indirect ion channel opening?

A
  •  Some receptors do not open ion channels directly but instead start a chain of chemical events
    • Metabotropic receptors they involve steps that require that the cell expend metabolic energy
    • located close to G protein
    • when molecule of neurotransmitter binds with receptor, receptor activates G protein, which when activated, activates an enzyme that stimulates the production of a chemical- second messenger
    • molecules of these travel through cytoplasm, attach selves to nearby ion channels, and cause them to open
  • these take longer to begin and last longer
72
Q

True or false: PSPS are either excitatory (EPSP) or inhibitory (IPSP).

A
  • True
73
Q

EPSP

A
  • when sodium channels are opened, results in depolarization
     Opening NA+ ion channels results in depolarization and an EPSP
     Opening Cl- ion channels results in hyperpolarization of a depolarized membrane potential and therefore neutralizes EPSP
     Opening Ca++ ion channels results in depolarization and an EPSP
74
Q

IPSP

A
  • Opening K+ ion channels results in hyperpolarization and an IPSP
75
Q

What is neural integration?

A
  • refers to the algebraic summation of PSPs
76
Q

What is the process of neural integration?

A
  •  A predominance of EPSPs at the axon will result in an action potential
     If the summated PSPs do not drive the axon membrane past threshold, no action potential will occur
     Summated PSPs that do result in an action potential, determine the rate of firing
    Note: inhibitory PSP does not necessarily translate into neural or behavioral inhibition!
77
Q

What happens when several inhibitory synapses are active at the same time?

A
  • the IPSPs they produce diminish the size of EPSPs and prevent the axon from firing
78
Q

What happens when several excitatory synapses are active at the same time?

A
  • the EPSPs they produce summate as they travel toward the axon, and the axon fires