Introduction Part 1 Flashcards
Where are motor neurons located?
In the CNS, controls the contraction of a muscle or the secretion of a gland
Where are most interneurons located?
Within the CNS and connect neurons to each other, all sensory neurons are connected by interneurons
What is a major substrate of brain plasticity?
Dendrites, and the small membranous protrusions which dictate dendritic spine density
The thicker the axon the ____ the action
faster, usually thicker because of the myelin sheath
What are the supporting cells of the CNS?
Glial cells, which provide nutrients for the neurons
What do astrocytes do?
Digest debris and participate in phagocytosis, the most numerous glia in the brain
What do oligodendrocytes do?
Help produce myelin sheath
What do microglia do?
Smallest immune cells of the CNS, help destroy pathogens and migrate to the site of infection and injury
What are ependymal cells?
Line brain ventricles and produce the CSF - protection of the brain & means of removing metabolic waste
What are mylenating glia?
Includes oligodendrocytes and shwann cels
(T/F) Schwann cells insultate the PNS
T, and Oligo cells insulate the CNS
What is the BBB lined by?
Astrocytes, and helps keep tight junctions and substances require active transport. Area postrema is less conservative
What is MS?
An attack on the oligodendrocytes in the CNS, breaks down the myelin and makes communication thry these circuits less reliable
Dicsuss the role of inhibition in a reflex arc
The excitatory synapses can be overriden by inhibitory synapses if our brain wants to. An interneuron will inhibit the motor neuron preventing a muscular contraction
Which cell type has the smallest (most negative) RMP?
Skeletal muscle (-95 mV)
What are three ways of measuring electrical potentials of axons?
1) Electrode (apply electrical stimulation or record electrical stimulation)
2) Microelectrode (record activity of individual neurons)
3) Membrane potential ( the electrical charge across a cell membrane)
What are the three main players necessary for maintaining RP?
- The neuronal membrane
- Fluid
- Ion channels (proteins) in the neuronal membrane q
What are the two key factors at play when it comes to RMP?
- Diffusional force
- Electrostatic force
What is electrostatic force determined by?
- Electric potential (voltage) - reflects the difference in charge between anode and cathode
- Electrical conductance - refers to the relative ability or inability (resistance)of an electrical charge to migrate
Which force initially rules?
-Diffusion, and then electrical potential difference across the membrane
How is an equilibrium achieved?
When the electrical force of the ion is equal in the diffusion force of the ion (for example, K+)
(T/F) there is a higher water concentration inside the cell
F, more outside as there is a higher concentration of salt outside the cell, more K+ inside the cell
-Adding more sodium on the outside helps achieve greater osmotic balance
What causes Na+ to “leak” inside the cell?
Due to the concentration gradient (more Na+ outside vs inside), however is offset by the electrical force (As the +Na ions enter, space inside is less negative and therefore Na+ is less pulled inside)
What causes K+ to leak outside the cell?
Due to the concentration gradient, however K+ leaving the cell makes it more polarized, therefore there is a stronger electrical pull to bring the K+ back into the cell
What is RMP more skewed towards? Why?
k+, as the membrane is much more permeable to K+, there are 40x more channles
(T/F) the membrane is maintained at it’s equilibrium potentail
False, as membranes are always leaky, K+ is leaking out, and Na+ is leaking in
What is the solution for the leaks?
The sodium potassium pump, energy drives 3 K+ into the cell and 2 Na+ out of the cell
How do astrocytes regulate potassium?
Will take up K+ when extracellular levels are high, this is important because if more K+ is outside the cell then the cell is more negative, and therefore will be harder to depolarize
What is an action potential caused by?
A brief increase in membrane permeability to Na+, then a brief increase in permeability of membrane to K+
(T/F) the AP is of fixed size and duration
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What are the two laws for the principles of generation of an AP?
1) All or none law
2) rate law
What is the all or none law?
The AP will be generated entirely across the length of the axon, or not at all
What is the rate law?
The magnitude, or size of each AP is constant, but what changes is how often it fired and the frequencies when we consider a weak stimulus compared to a strong stimulus
In an AP, what is the current?
Net movement of K+ across a membrane