exam 1b Flashcards
Parts of a neuron
axon, myelin sheath, button terminals, Nodes of Ranvier, dendrites, nucleus, and cell body (soma)
Soma
cell body
metabolic center of the neuron
contains:
nucleus of the cell
neurotransmitter-synthesizing mechanisms
energy producing and storing structures
dendrites
input unit
branchlike extensions that receive information from other neurons
axon
output unit
extends from cell bodied to target cells and transmits information to other cells
vary from 1 meter to a few centimeters
axon hillock
small bump between axon and cell body where axon originates
oligodendrocytes
myelinates axons in the central nervous system
Schwann cells
myelinates axons in the peripheral nervous system
Pre-synaptic terminals
fingerlike projections at the end of axon
belongs to the neuron transmitting information
Post-synaptic terminal
area on dendrite, cell body, or axon which receives the signal transmitted from pre-synaptic terminal
synaptic cleft
space between two terminals
neurotransmitters
chemical compounds that transfer information about its activity
what is the only direction information can be transferred in?
pre-synaptic terminal to post-synaptic terminal
Nodes of Ranvier
spaces in the myelin sheath not covered by a fatty substance
important for saltatory conduction and aid in speed of signal transmission
How do Nodes and Ranvier aid in speed?
signal jumps over myelinated areas like leapfrog rather than flowing down length of axon
Action potential
ALL or NONE Principle: either the stimulus is strong enough or not to result in action potential
Excitatory Post-Synaptic Potential
EPSP
positive charges that cause the next neuron to move towards the action potential
Inhibitory Post-Synaptic Potential
IPSP
negative charges that cause next neuron to move away from action potential
Absolute Refractory period
period immediately following an action potential during which a neuron cannot fire another action potential, regardless of stimulus strength
time of firing levels to 1/3 of the way through repolarizing
Relative Refractory Period
period following an action potential during which a neuron can fire an action potential, but requires a stronger stimulus than usual
last 2/3 of rest of the potential
Temporal Summation
positive charges building up over time, resulting in an action potential
Spatial Summation
occurs when positive charges keep coming in over and over
Describe an action potential
-Resting potential: -60 mV
-Stimulus causes cell to reduce negativity (move in positive direction) to -50 or -45 mV
-At the threshold for a cell to fire (-50), receptor proteins open and sodium rushes in (sodium is positively charged) DEPOLARIZATION
-Depolarization continues until cell crosses 0
-At peak (35 to 40 mV) cell pumps out potassium and begins to move in a negative direction REPOLARIZATION
hyperpolarization
state in which it is hard for a cell to fire
results in absolute refractory and relative refractory periods
consequences of positive and negative charges
positive charges cause resting potential to increase and can cause action potential
negative charges cause resting potential to decrease and do nothing regarding action potentials
relationship between strength of stimulus and latency
stronger stimulus - shorter latency
sensory nervous system
vision
hearing
touch
smell
measuring sensitivity in sensory nervous system
level of sensitivity is based on how many nerve fibers are affected
motor nervous system
causes muscles to assume various degrees of contraction
ration of nerve and muscle best for fine motor movement (innervation ratio)
low nerve to muscle ratio
1 to 1 is better than 1 to 100
What are the three layers of the meninges?
Dura Mater
Arachnoid Mater
Pia Mater