L1 Action Potential Flashcards
Basic functions of neuron
to integrate and relay info from other neurons in a neural circuit
about 86 billion in one body
Basic structure of neuron
Body
Axon
Dendrites
Myelin sheaths
Axon terminal
Interneurons
located in spinal cord
local circuit neurons, relatively short axons
connect brain regions
Projection neurons
extend to distant targets, both afferent (sensory/towards NS) and efferent (motor/away NS)
Glial cells
-supportive functions for neurons, not transmitting electrical signals
-maintains ionic environment
-modulates the rate myelin sheath
-controls the uptake and metabolism of neurotransmitters
-providing scaffold for neural development
-recovery from neural injury
-connects. brain and immune system
-facilitates flow of interstitial fluid in sleep
Types of glial cells
astrocytes
oligodendrocytes
microglial
Astrocytes
only in central NS
starlike appearance
maintain chemical environment, forms blood-brain barrier, secrete substances that form new synaptic connections
Oligodendrocytes
lay down myelin for CNS
stem cells can generate new ones after injury
Schwann Cells
lay down myelin for PNS
stem cells can generate new ones after injury
Microglial cells
-derived primarily from hematopoietic precursor cells
-similar to macrophages
-remove cellular debris, secrete signaling molecules that modulate inflammation
Glial stem cells
not a lot known about the importance of glial cells
retain the capacity to generate new precursor cells
2 types include astrocytes (ventricles) and oligodendrocytes (white matter)
Afferent neurons
sensory, entering CNS
Efferent neurons
motor, exiting CNS
Reflex circuit (knee-jerk)
- Hammer tap, stretches sensory receptors in extensor muscles
- Sensory neuron synapses on motor neuron and spinal interneurons
- Interneuron synapse inhibits motor neuron to flexor muscles
- Motor neuron synapses on extensor muscle fibers, contraction
- Flexor muscle relaxes b/c of interneuron
- Leg extends
Extracellular recording
electrode is placed near the nerve cell of interest to detect activity
used for detecting temporal patterns of action potential activity
Intracellular recording
electrode is placed inside the cell of interest to detect activity
can detect the smaller graded changes in electrical potential that trigger action potentials
Action potential
electrical signal that transiently reverses the negative resting potential and makes the transmembrane potential positive
all or nothing changes
self-regenerating wave of electrical activity
comes from ion fluxes
Resting membrane potential
neurons at rest generate negative potential
-60mV
more potassium inside the cell, more sodium/calcium/chloride outside the cell
Why are electrical potentials generated across the membranes of neurons?
- there are differences in concentrations of specific ions across nerve cell membranes
- membranes are selectively permeable to some of these ions
Active transporters
-actively move selected ions against concentration gradient
-create ion concentration gradient
steps: ion binds, ion transported across membrane
Ion channels
allow ions to diffuse down concentration gradient
are selectively permeable to certain ions
Types of potentials
receptor potentials
synaptic potential
action potential
Receptor potential
sensory neurons
due to the activation of sensory neurons by external stimuli (light, sound, heat).
neuron responds to touch with a receptor
potential that changes the resting potential for a fraction of a second
Synaptic potential
brief changes in resting potential
allow transmission of information from one neuron to another and produce very brief change in resting potential. These serve as means of exchanging info in CNS and PNS
Synaptic transmission
action potential is passed from one neuron to another at synaptic contacts
More permeability to potassium
resting potential of the neuron will be lesser than -60mV, about -86mV