Electrical Signaling Flashcards
____ ____ are the vocabulary of the nervous system
Electrical signals
____ signals are how ____ is transmitted from cell to cell
Chemical; information
Membrane potential
An electrical-potential difference across the membrane
Characteristic resting membrane is in the range of ____mV to ____mV, making the typical to be ____mV
-50; -90; -70
The inside of the cell is more ____ relative to the outside
Negative
Forces influencing ion distribution between in and out of a cell
Diffusion force and electrostatic force
Diffusion force is founded on a ____ gradient, in which molecules move from ____ to ____ of the concentration gradient to achieve ____
Chemical; High; Low; Equilibrium
Electrostatic force is on a ____ gradient, in which ____ charges repel and ____ charges attract
Electrical; like; opposite
Equilibrium potential
Potential at which opposing forces reach equilibrium
Na+/K+ pump (Na+/K+ ATP-ase) moves ____ Na+ out for ____ K+ in
3; 2
Concentration of ions & polymers outside of cell
- Na+: Many
- K+: Few
- Cl-: Many
- Ca2+: Many
- Proteins: Few
Concentrations of ions & polymers inside of cell
- Na+: Few
- K+: Many
- Cl-: Few
- Ca2+: Few
- Proteins: Many
Hyperpolarization of a neuron is due to an ____ of K+ ions and an ____ of Cl- ions, making the inside of cell more ____, resulting in a ____ in voltage
Efflux; Influx; Negative; Decrease
Depolarization of a cell is due to an ____ of Na+ through ____ ____, making the inside of cell more ____, resulting in an ____ in voltage
Influx; Na+ Channels; Positive; Increase
Types of sub threshold responses
IPSP (Inhibitory postsynaptic potential) & EPSP (Excitatory postsynaptic potential)
IPSP (Inhibitory postsynaptic potential)
- Produces a small hyperpolarization, pushes the cell away from the threshold
- Typically result from Cl- ions entering the cell / K+ ions leaving the cell
EPSP (Excitatory postsynaptic potential)
- Produces a small local depolarization, pushes the cell closer to the threshold
- Typically result from positive ions entering the cell (ex. Na+), making the inside more positive
Action potential
Brief but large changes in membrane potential
Action potentials are triggered when a ____ ____ ____ is reached, which involves the triggering of ____-gated channels
Threshold membrane potential; Voltage
Membrane potential returns to its baseline when ____-gated ____ and ____ channels are ____ and the ____ ____ helps restore ion balance
Voltage; Na+; K+; Na+/K+ pump
Axon hillock
A region in the axon densely packed with voltage-gated Na+ channels, also where action potentials originate from
Absolute refractory period
- Voltage-gated Na+ channels open (inactivated)
- Voltage-gated K+ channels are closed
Relative refractory period
- Voltage-gated Na+ channels are closing and re-activating
- Voltage-gated K+ channels are opened and slowly closing
Action potential is ____ or ____: only when the threshold is reached can the action potential be fired
All; None