How the nervous system works Flashcards

1
Q

Explain how never impulses are conducted along a myelinated axon after an action potential has been initiated

A
  • propagation of action potential
  • section of membrane that has been depolarised has the opposite electrical charge to resting membrane
  • some Na+ ions diffuse sideways attracted to the -ve charge of resting potential
  • these are local currents
  • this depolarises section of axon adjacent
  • Na+ channels open in the section of resting membrane, Na+ diffuses in
  • more Na+ ions move in so more Na+ channels are opened (positive feedback)
  • inside axon becomes +40mv
  • Na+ channels then close and K+ voltage dependent channels open, K+ moves out of axon down electrochemical and concentration gradient
  • membrane repolarises
  • membrane becomes hyperpolarised, K+ channels close and Na+/K+ pump restores resting potential
  • during hyperpolarisation is the refractory period (more -ve than resting potential), no AP can be stimulated
  • refractory period ensures impulses moves in one direction only (cannot spread backwards), impulses move away from parts of membrane in the refractory period as they cannot fire an AP
  • wave of depolarisation, depolarisation-repolarisation process repeats itself along the axon
  • myelin sheath speeds up conduction as it is an electrical insulator
  • current jumps between nodes of Ranvier, saltatory conduction
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2
Q

How changes in the functioning of the synapse might bring about habituation

A
  • after repeated stimulation
  • less Ca2+ moves into the presynaptic membrane
  • fewer vesicles containing neurotransmitter move to the presynaptic membrane and fuse with it
  • less transmitter is released into the synaptic cleft by exocytosis
  • less transmitter diffuses across synaptic cleft
  • less transmitter binds to receptors on postsynaptic membrane
  • fewer Na+ channels open, less Na+ enter axon
  • less membrane depolarisation
  • depolarisation doesn’t reach threshold
  • no AP stimulated in the second neurone
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3
Q

Describe the effect of changing light intensity on the area of the pupil

A
  • as light intensity increases, pupil area decreases
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4
Q

How does the eye bring about changing pupil diameter

A
  • to decrease diameter (bright light), radial muscles relax, circular muscles contract
  • to increase diameter (dim light), radial muscles contract, and circular muscles relax
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5
Q

Change in area of pupil is controlled by a reflex action, in the pupil reflex what is the receptor and effector

A
  • receptors are photoreceptors rods and cones

- effect is the iris muscle (circular/radial muscle)

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6
Q

Why does the pupil reflex still occur in an unconscious person

A
  • it is an involuntary response (autonomic)
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7
Q

Explain how light causes depolarisation of the bipolar cell

A
  • when the rod cell absorbs light, retinal turns from cis to trans
  • this causes rhodopsin to break up into opsin and retinal (bleaching)
  • Na+ channels close
  • inner segment continues to pump out Na+
  • inside rod cell becomes hyperpolarised (more -ve)
  • release of neurotransmitter glutamate stops (glutamate binds to the bipolar cell, stopping depolarisation), inhibition of bipolar cell lifted
  • lack of glutamate results in depolarisation of bipolar cell, Na+ channels open
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8
Q

Describe how the nervous system controls the pupil reflex in a mammal in response to bright light

A
  • light hits photoreceptors on the retina
  • impulses pass to the brain, via sensory neurone
  • this is an autonomic response (involuntary)
  • impulses pass along parasympathetic nerve
  • along motor neurone to effector
  • circular muscles contract, radial muscles relax
  • pupil constricts
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9
Q

Explain the advantage of myelination

A
  • myeline acts as an electrical insulator
  • schwann cells produce the myeline sheath
  • depolarisation can only occur at nodes of Ranvier
  • the jumping of current from node to node is saltatory conduction
  • results in faster impulses
  • better protection as reflex is a rapid response
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10
Q

Explain how neurotransmitters stimulate neurones

A
  • CA2+ ions are required
  • when presynaptic membrane depolarises, CA2+ channels open, CA2+ moves in
  • vesicles containing transmitter move to presynaptic membrane
  • vesicles fuse with membrane and release transmitter into synaptic cleft by exocytosis
  • transmitter diffuses across synaptic cleft
  • transmitter binds to receptors on postsynaptic membrane
  • Na+ channels in postsynaptic membrane open, Na+ ions enter
  • depolarisation of postsynaptic membrane
  • if depolarisation reaches threshold, AP initiated
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11
Q

Describe the role of ATP in nerve impulse transmission

A
  • ATP supplies energy for active transport (Na+/K+ pump)

- Na+ ions are pumped out of the axon against concentration gradient, restoring/maintaining membrane resting potential

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12
Q

Describe the events that begin depolarisation of the membrane of a neurone

A
  • depolarisation of adjacent membrane
  • change of potential difference across membrane
  • Na+ gates open
  • Na+ ions move into neurone
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14
Q

Explain the movement of ions during repolarisation

A
  • voltage dependent K+ gates open
  • Na+ gates close
  • increased permeability to K+ ions
  • K+ ions move down electrochemical/concentration gradient
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15
Q

Explain how the pd across the membrane is returned to resting potential during hyperpolarisation

A
  • membrane remains permeable to K+ ions through K+ channels
  • K+ ions move into axon because of charge difference- K+ ion is removing a positive charge from the outside
  • equilibrium is established, concentration gradient is balanced by electrochemical gradient (diffusion gradient balanced by pd)
  • voltage dependent K+ channels close
  • Na+/K+ pump re-establishes resting potential
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16
Q

During depolarisation and repolarisation what ions is the membrane permeable to

A
  • during depolarisation, membrane is permeable to Na+ ions

- during repolarisation, membrane is permeable to K+ ions

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17
Q

Describe how the role of the myelin sheath in the conduction of nerve impulses

A
  • electrical insulation
  • depolarisation only at nodes
  • impulse jumps from node to node
  • saltatory conduction
  • faster conduction
18
Q

Explain how the structure of the axon cell membrane is related to the conduction of nerve impulses

A
  • phospholipid bilayer restricts ion movement
  • protein span the membrane
  • Na+/K+ pump moves ions
  • protein gates allow diffusion of ions
19
Q

What is meant by repolarisation of a nerve cell

A
  • redistribution of ions across the cell membrane

- causes change in potential difference and return to resting potential

20
Q

Describe the role of ATP in hyperpolarisation of rod cells in the retina

A
  • ATP supplies the energy for active transport (Na+ pump)

- pumps Na+ ions out of inner segment, maintain more negative charge inside the membrane

21
Q

Name a retinal photoreceptor protein and describe its function

A
  • rhodopsin
  • broken down by light
  • generates action impulses
  • for black and white vision