Chapter 5: The Neuron Flashcards
CNS
central nervous system- brain, spinal cord (interneurons)
no nerves, instead, analogous structures known as tracts
neural tube-> precursor
PNS
peripheral nervous system- afferent and efferent neurons
in spinal cord:
dorsal root- afferent
ventral root- efferent
afferent neurons
sensory neurons; pick up stimulus through sensory receptors, transmit to interneurons (usually) in CNS
usually have one axon with 2 branches (no dendrites from cell body):
- peripheral branch: from cell body to periphery (skin, joint, muscle)
- central branch: from cell body to spinal cord
sensory receptors/neuronal endings can be encapsulated or free
ex. pacinian corpuscle: in skin, encapsulated: detects vibration/pressure and discerns rough/smooth feeling
efferent neurons
carry response signal so that response can be carried out
ex. motor neuron (carries signals to skeletal muscle)
information processing in the nervous system
Sense, Integrate, Act (SIA)
stimulus -> (reception) afferent neurons -> (transmission) -> interneurons -> (integration) interneurons -> (transmission) efferent neurons -> (response) effectors -> action
neuron
a type of cell
anatomy:
dendrites
cell body (soma)
nucleus
axon hillock
axon
axon terminals
nerve
cordlike structure that contains many axons (fibers)
provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses transmitted along each of the axons, (31 pairs of spinal nerves)
only found in PNS. in CNS -> tracts (analogous structures)
interneurons
integrate information, formulate a response
part of CNS
nerve
cordlike structure with many axons (fibers)
provides a common pathway for the electrochemical nerve impulses that are transmitted along each of the axons
31 pairs of spinal nerves in humans
ONLY found in PNS
ex. radial nerve: supplies the triceps brachial muscle and all 12 muscles in the posterior osteofascial compartment of the forearm, associated joints, and overlying skin
white matter
myelinated (has fatty layer to insulate electrical impulses) axons and glial cells
glial cells (neuroglia)
non-neuronal cells that provide nutrition and support to neurons
examples:
ependymal cells
microglia
astrocytes
schwann cells
oligodendrocytes
ependymal cells
glial cell, produces cerebrospinal fluid
microglia
glial cell. phagocytic cell that ingests and breaks down pathogens and waste products in the CNS
astrocytes
glial cell in CNS. cover surfaces of blood vessels (structural support)
help maintain ion concentrations in interstitial fluid surrounding them
satellite cells have similar function but work in the PNS
schwann cells
form myelin sheath in PNS
oligodendrocytes
form myelin sheath in CNS
myelin sheath
have high lipid content; serve to insulate the electrical impulse as it travels along an axon (white color)
node of ranvier
gaps in the myelin that expose the axon membrane directly to extracellular fluid
speed the rate at which electrical impulses move along axons
signal conduction in the neuron (regions/terminals)
presynaptic region/terminal- transmitting
postsynaptic region- receiving
axon hillock
emerges out from the soma of the neuron
high concentration of voltage activated Na channels
considered the “spike initiation zone” for action potentials
multiple signals (from presynaptic neuronal terminals) are generated at the dendrites and transmitted by the soma. converge at axon hillock
synapse
junction between axon terminals of a neuron and the receiving cell (another neuron, muscle fiber, gland cell)
2 types of synapses: electrical and chemical
variability of synapses
allows for modulation of transmission
axodendritic synapse: axon to dendrites
axosomatic: axon to soma/cell body
axoaxonic: axon and axon meet
electrical synapses
found in pulp of tooth, heart muscle tissue, smooth muscle
plasma membranes of pre and postsynaptic cells make direct contact through connexon proteins. ions flow through gap junctions that connect both membranes, allowing impulses to pass through
important where uniform contractile activity among a group of cells is needed (action potential transferred such that tissue acts like one cell)
faster than chemical synapse
chemical synapse
plasma membrane of presynaptic and postsynaptic cells are separated by narrow synaptic cleft. neurotransmitter molecules diffuse across cleft and bind to receptors in the postsynaptic cell. this opens channels to ion flow that may generate an impulse in the postsynaptic cell
better modulated than electrical synapse
- allow neurons to receive inputs from numerous axon terminals at same time
membrane potential
separation of positive and negative charges across a membrane
membrane pot at rest: -70mV
1. DNA/proteins are neg
2. more K+ leaves the cell than Na+ enters:
- membrane more permeable to K+ than Na+ (many more ungated K+ channels/K+ leak channels open than ungated Na+ channels)
- at rest: higher Na+ concentration outside, higher K+ inside
- Na+ passively diffuses in, K+ out (against Na+/K+ pump)
- Na+/K+ pump: 3 Na+ out, 2 K+ in (against conc gradient)
- neg charged organic molecules create electrical force that attract K+ to stay in, this balances the tendency of K+ to leak out
Electro-chemical gradient: net driving force; consists of concentration gradient and electrical/voltage gradient
resting membrane potential
equilibrium condition, no net flow of ions across the plasma membrane (cell not transmitting electrical impulse)
equilibrium potential
membrane potential at which the voltage gradient of an ion balances the concentration gradient for the ion (no net flow of ion through channel
nerst equation
predicts equilibrium potential in mV across the membrane of a cell for a singly charged positive ion (Eion)
=62mV log10([X]outside/[X]inside)
goldman equation
predicts membrane potential (Vm) when membrane is permeable to more than one ion Pion=permeability to that ion
Vm =62log10{Px[X]outside+Py[Y]outside+Pz[Z]inside/Px[X]inside+Py[Y]inside+Pz[Z]outside}
*reciprocal if ion is negatively charged
ion channels in neurons (types; 4)
- ungated channels (leak)
- voltage gated (in axon membranes) (respond to changes in Vm)
- ligand gated channels (primarily at synapses) (open when neurotransmitters bind and cause conformational change)
- mechanically gated (in sensory receptors)
in a neuron at rest, it is primarily ungated K+ channels that are open
can more than one ion pass through an ungated channel?
no
- ions form transient associations with amino acid side groups of intermembrane proteins of channel.
- there are exceptions
functional elements of ion superfamily of proteins
- ion conductance
- pore gating
- regulation
voltage gated Na+ channel
- 6 alpha helical transmembrane segments
- 4 homologous domains
key regions: - voltage sensing (4th transmembrane segment on domain I)
- pore (between 5th and 6th transmembrane segment)
- inactivation (between 6th and 1st transmembrane)
voltage gated K+ channels
variable
- inactivate fast (A type currents)
- others inactivate slowly/not at all
variability ensures they’ll always be available source of current for repolarization
properties of ion channels
- may have multiple internal gates that respond to changes in opposite ways/different rates)
- single-channel current amplitude (rate of ionic flow through channel) determined by
1. maximum channel conductance (how fast ion channel can pass ions)
2. electrochemical driving force for ion
action potential
abrupt and transient change in membrane potential that occurs when an electrically excitable cell conducts an electrical impulse
action potential series of events (in neuron):
- stimulus causes positive charges to flow into neuron
- membrane potential depolarizes (becomes less negative)
- this occurs slowly until membrane pot reaches “threshold” (10-20mV more positive than resting potential)
- activation gate of Na+ channel opens - sudden increase in membrane potential (firing) due to rapid influx of positive ions
- when potential peaks, inactivation part of protein blocks Na+ channel)
- K+ channels allow K+ to flow outward - membrane potential falls, usually below resting (hyperpolarization)
- returns to resting
*all or nothing: once threshold is reached, regardless of strength of stimulus, AP will fire
key features of AP’s in neurons
all or none
maintain size (magnitude of AP doesn’t change with propagation down axon)
propagate
intensity of stimulus is encoded by the frequency of APs (rate at which they happen)
refractory period (2 types)
absolute refractory period: time when an excitable membrane cannot generate an AP in response to any stimulus
- from beginning of AP until near end of repolarization
- sodium channels inactivated and voltage gated potassium channels open
relative refractory period: time during which excitable membrane will produce AP but only to a stimulus of greater strength than the usual threshold strength, must also outlast relative refractory period (AP will be smaller than normal)
- density and subtypes of K+ channels may differ greatly between different types of neurons, so duration is highly variable as well as threshold strength, which gets smaller as time passes
- some Na+ channels still inactivated, K+ channels open (contributes most), membrane hyperpolarized
primary afferent axons
from large diameter to small:
information they carry
1. A-alpha nerve fibers: proprioception (muscle sense)
2. A-beta nerve fibers: touch
3. A-delta nerve fibers: pain and temp
4. C-nerve nerve fibers: pain, temp, itch
*larger diameter= lower internal resistance, greater conduction velocity of APs because more myelinated
conduction velocity-basis
cable theory
- describes flow of currents within an axon
- neuron is treated as an electrically passive, perfectly cylindrical transmission cable
- local circuits of current flow, symmetrical
ohms law: Current (I)= voltage difference (delta V)/resistance (R)
cable theory
- describes flow of currents within an axon
- neuron is treated as an electrically passive, perfectly cylindrical transmission cable
- local circuits of current flow, symmetrical
ohms law: Current (I)= voltage difference (delta V)/resistance (R)
myelin inscreases conduction velocity because insulate current and bring to node of ranvier (saltatory conduction)
capacitance and resistance
capacitance: stored electrical energy
resistance:f force that counteracts flow of current
capacitance of neuronal fiber is due to electrostatic forces that act through the phospholipid bilayer
resistance (longitudinal/internal resistance) due to the cytosol (proteins/organelles)
lambda length constant
- characteristic length on which the voltage across a membrane decays
- size of an applied voltage will decline to 37% of the original size (roughly 1/3)
- larger length constant gives greater conduction velocity because can reach threshold further down axon each time AP is generated (AP doesn’t have to be regenerated as much)
equation: sqrt(rm/rl)
rm: resistance of membrane
rl: longitudinal resistance; resistance of axoplasm (internal)
therefore, larger rm=larger conduction velocity
neurotransmitter
small signal molecules secretes by the pre synaptic nerve cell to relay the signal to the postysynaptic nerve cell
- may have stimulatory or inhibitory effect
neurotransmission at a chemical synapse
- info received at post synaptic neuron is integrated
- resulting response (whether AP fires) reflects sum of the combined effects of all signals/info received
- Ap reaches axon terminal of presynaptic neuron
- Ca2+ enters axon terminal
- neurotransmitter released by exocytosis (synaptic vesicles merge with membrane on presynaptic terminal, release neurotransmitters to synapse, bind to ligand gated channels)
- when stimulus subsides: no APs generated, voltage gated Ca2+ channels close
- Ca2+ pumped outside axon terminal, vesicles no longer fuse with membrane
- any remaining neurotransmitters in cleft diffuse away/broken down, reuptake to presynaptic terminal
- ligand gated channels open on post synaptic cell membrane when neurotransmitters bind
- flow of ions can stimulate or inhibit the generation of an AP in the post synaptic cell
acetylcholine
neurotransmitter between nerves and muscle;
in brain (hippocampus) (memory, attention, learning) and in heart (binds to muscarinic receptors- parasympathetic, slows heart rate down)
Alzheimer’s: degeneration of acetylcholine releasing neurons
removal from synaptic cleft:
- unbind from receptors
- acetylcholinesterase splits acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid, which prevents it from binding to receptors again
- choline used to make new acetylcholine molecules that are packaged into synaptic vesicles in presynaptic terminal
aricept: acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AD) (treatment for early alzheimer’s/demetia)
acetylcholine
neurotransmitter between nerves and muscle;
in brain (hippocampus) (memory, attention, learning) and in heart (binds to muscarinic receptors- parasympathetic, slows heart rate down)
Alzheimer’s: degeneration of acetylcholine releasing neurons
GABA
gamma aminobutyric acid
- inhibitor or neutrotransmission
- opens Cl- channels on post synaptic membrane (further from threshold)
glycine
neurotransmitter
- inhibitor of neutrotransmission
- can increase Cl- influx in post synaptic membrane (further from threshold)
glutamate
neurotransmitter
involved with learning and memory
generally excitatory
norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline)
dual roles as hormones and neurotransmitters
involved in attention and mental focus
can be excitatory or inhibitory depending on receptor it binds to
plays a role in pleasure/reward pathway (addiction and thrills), memory, and motor control
derived from tyrosine
norepinephrine removal from synaptic cleft:
- unbinds from receptor and uptakes by presynaptic terminal
- repackaged into synaptic vesicles or broken down by monoamine oxidase (MAO)
dopamine
neurotransmitter/neurohormone
behavior and cognition
voluntary movement
motivation and reward
inhibition of prolactin production (lactation)
sleep, mood attention and learning
parkinsons: degeneration of dopamine releasing neurons in substantia nigra, progressive loss of muscle control
derived from tyrosine
serotonin
Neurotransmitter
derived from tryptophan
regulates intestinal movements
mood appetite sleep
neuropeptides
indirect neurotransmitters (go through second messenger pathway to open channels)
endorphins (endogenous morphines)
neuropeptide
- released during pleasurable experience,
- reduce perception of pain
work on PNS
enkephalins: subset of endorphins
work in CNS
modulate pain response
substance P
neuropeptide
released by spinal cord
increase perception of pain
carbon monoxide (dissolved?)
neurotransmitter
regulates the release of hormones from the hypothalamus
nitric oxide (dissolved)
learning, muscle movement, replaces smooth muscle in walls of blood vessels, causes dilation
nitric oxide (dissolved)
learning, muscle movement, replaces smooth muscle in walls of blood vessels, causes dilation
SSRIs and SSNRIs
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
selectice serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (antidepressants)
inhibitory/stimulatory neurotransmitters
inhibitory neurotransmitters: cause K+ out or Cl- in (inside more negative
stimulatory neurotransmitters: open Na+ channels
direct neurotransmission
- direct:
- neurotransmitter binds directly to a ligand gated ion channel
- opens or closes; affects flow of ions in postsynaptic cell
- quick
- ionotropic receptors (proteins) form an ion channel pore (what neurotransmitters bind to)
indirect neurotransmission
- indirect:
- neurotransmitter binds to G-protein coupled receptors on postsynaptic membrane
- G protein causes second messenger pathway is activated
- ion channels opened/closed, signals propagated
- slower
- effects may last minutes to hours
- ex. metabolic receptors: indirectly linked with ion channels on the plasma membrane of the cell through signal transduction mechanisms, often G proteins
EPSP
excitatory post synaptic potential: change in membrane potential that moves neuron closer to threshold
ligand gated channels open to Na+, membrane depolarizes
- precursors to APs
IPSP
inhibitory post synaptic potential: change in membrane potential that pushes membrane farther from threshold
K+ channels open, K+ exits or Cl- comes in, membrane becomes hyperpolarized
graded potentials or receptor potential
inc or dec in membrane pot that is below threshold, so it DOES NOT trigger action potential
(ESPS and IPSPs)
- no refractory periods
- can occur in sensory cell when sensory stimulus excites it or postsynaptic cell when chemical neurotransmitter binds
-size of graded potential IS related to stimulus intensity/ amount of neurotransmitter
- decrease with distance
- rise and fall more gradual
- responses can sum:
temporal summation (single presynaptic neuron)
spatial summation: (different presynaptic neurons)
cephalization
development of an anterior head where sensory organs and nervous tissues are concentrated
nerve nets
loose mesh of neurons found in radially symmetrical animals
nerve cord
bundle of nerves which extend from the central ganglia (functional clusters of neurons) to the rest of the body
cadherins
calcium dependent adhesion molecules
- transmembrane proteins
- role in cell adhesion, ensures that cells within tissues are bound together
- dependent on Ca2+
cadherins
calcium dependent adhesion molecules
- transmembrane proteins
- role in cell adhesion, ensures that cells within tissues are bound together
- dependent on Ca2+
functions of the brain
receive
integrate
send out
store
retrieve
information
key features of brain
blood brain barrier, meninges, ventricular system
blood brain barrier
- brain highly vascularized
- seperation of circulating blood and CSF
- occurs along all capillaries; consists of tight junctions that do not exist in normal circulation
- endothelial cells restrict diffusion of microscopic objects and large/hydrophilic molecules (allow small hydrophobic ex. O2, hormones)
- other cells of the barrier actively transport metabolic products with specific proteins (ex. glucose)
- what CAN pass: glucose, alcohol, CO2, anesthetics, nicotine
meninges
layers of connective tissue (membranes) covering the brain and spinal cord
3 connective tissue layers: (PAD)
pía (deepest)
arachnoid
dura mater (2 layers) (surface)
skull
- provide structural support for blood vessels
- serve as PAD between brain and skull
CSF
clear colorless fluid produced in choroid plexus (complex of glial cells called ependymal cells)
- found in brain + spinal cord
- circulates nutrients and chemicals filtered from blood and removes waste products from the brain
- occupies subarachnoid space (between arachnoid mater and pía mater) and the ventricular system
provide buoyancy and support to brain against gravity (suspend brain) prevents from resting against cranium bc brain and CSF has same density
ventricles and ventricular system in brain
ventricles: cavities in brain filled with CSF
4 ventricles:
2 lateral
third and fourth
- cushion brain and take brunt of force
ventricular volume is significantly higher in AD patients
forebrain
forms the cerebrum
cerebrum
has left and right hemisphere as well as 4 lobes
left:
- responds to sensory signals and controls movements from right side of body (right hemisphere does opposite)
- focus on details, spoken written language, abstract reasoning, math
- wernickes and broca’s areas (language)
right:
- broad background spatial relative position
- intuitive thinking, conceptualization, music, art, etc.
hemispheres connected by thick axon bundles (corpus callosum) which enables exchange of info between them
4 lobes:
1. frontal: executive function (thinking, organizing, planning, problem solving, memory, attention, movement)
2. parietal lobe: perception and integration of stimuli from the senses
3. occipital: vision
4. temporal: senses of smell, sound, and formation and storage of memories
laterization
difference in function between left and right hemisphere