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Principles of Med Neuroscience > L.6 > Flashcards

L.6 Flashcards

1
Q

What is a neuron

A

nerve cell that transmits electrical signals

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2
Q

What are the 3 basic structures of every neuron

A
  • dendrite
  • cell body
  • axon
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3
Q

What is a neuron

A

nerve cell that transmits electrical signals throughout the body

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4
Q

What are the 3 basic structures of neurons

A
  • dendrites
  • cell body
  • axon
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5
Q

What is the function of the dendrite

A

it receives electrical signals from other neurons

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6
Q

What is the function of the soma

A

contains genetic information + maintains cell functions

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7
Q

What is the function of the axon

A

it transmits the electrical signals to other neurons

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8
Q

What are the 3 neuron classifications

A
  • unipolar
  • bipolar
  • multipolar
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9
Q

What are the features of unipolar neurons

A
  • 1 process that is split into 2 branches
  • 1 functions as the dendrites
  • 1 functions as the axon
  • “part of the same branch, just different sections”
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10
Q

Where are unipolar neurons generally found

A

sensory neurons in PNS (ex: dorsal root ganglion)

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11
Q

What are features of bipolar neurons

A
  • 1 axon & 1 dendrite
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12
Q

Where are bipolar neurons generally found

A

sensory pathways (ex: retina of eye)

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13
Q

What are features of multipolar neurons

A
  • 1 axon & multiple dendrites
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14
Q

Where are multipolar neurons generally found

A

motor pathways and interneurons in CNS

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15
Q

What is an interneuron

A

neurons which connects sensory and motor neurons within CNS

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16
Q

What is the function of interneurons

A

relays information between sensory inputs and motor outputs

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17
Q

What is a special feature of interneurons

A

they can reverse a signal (create an inhibitory signal to an excitatory one)

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18
Q

Why are pyramidal cells important neurons

A
  • have long axons which allow for long-range communication
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19
Q

Why are Purkinje cells important neurons

A
  • allows for massive synaptic input
  • helps w/ precise control of motor movements
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20
Q

Why are dorsal root ganglions important cells

A
  • allows fast sensory signal w/o having to through the cell body
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21
Q

What is myelin

A

an insulating layer around axons

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22
Q

what are the 2 main roles of myelin

A
  • increases conduction speed
  • protects and insulates neurons
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23
Q

How does myelin increase conduction speed

A

electrical impulse can jump between between Nodes of Ranvier via saltatory conduction

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24
Q

What is a chemical synapse

A

electrical signals are passed via neurotransmitters

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25
Q

What are ganglion cells

A

group of neuron cell bodies

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26
Q

Where are motor ganglion cells found

A

in the ANS

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27
Q

What is the function of motor ganglion cells

A
  • relays signals from CNS to control & regulate muscle movement and involuntary activities
  • part of sympathetic & parasympathetic system
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28
Q

What kind of neuron classification would motor ganglion cells tend to be

A

multipolar

29
Q

What kind of neuron classification would sensory ganglion cells tend to be

A

unipolar

30
Q

Where are sensory ganglion cells found

A

in the PNS

31
Q

What is the function of sensory ganglion cells

A

transmits sensory information from the body to the CNS

32
Q

Name 6 types of ganglion cells

A
  • oligodendrocyte
  • astrocyte
  • microglia
  • ependymal cell
  • Schwann cell
  • satellite cell
33
Q

What is the role of oligodendrocyte

A

production of myelin sheath

34
Q

What is the role of astrocyte

A

supporting neurons via maintaining blood-brain barrier

35
Q

What is the role of microglia

A

it engulfs microbes (act’s as brain immune system)

36
Q

What is the role of ependymal cells

A

produces and pushes CSF around

37
Q

What is the role of Schwann cells

A

produces myelin for 1 axon

38
Q

What is the role of satellite cells

A

support and protect neurons by maintaining and regulating the environment

39
Q

What are electrical synapses

A

connections between neurons that allow the direct transmission of nerve impulses through the gap junctions

40
Q

What are features of electrical synapses

A
  • faster transmission
  • bidirectional
  • smaller gap
  • no plasticity
  • no amplification
41
Q

What does no amplification mean in electrical synapses

A
  • post-synaptic response is directly proportional to pre-synaptic input
  • 1st neuron sends weak signal = 2nd neuron gets weak signal
42
Q

What does no plasticity mean in electrical synapses

A

they can’t strengthen or weaken over time (based on activity/experience)

43
Q

What is temporal summation

A

when one neuron sends multiple signals quickly, one after the other

44
Q

What is spatial summation

A

many different neurons send signals to the same neuron at the same time

45
Q

What are the 4 main stages of action potential generation

A
  • resting period
  • depolarisation
  • repolarisation
  • refractory period
46
Q

Outline the resting period

A
  • no neuron firing
  • -70mV
  • Na+/K+ pump moves 3Na+ in and 2K+ out
  • membrane more permeable to K+ (inwards rectifier)
47
Q

Outline the depolarisation period

A
  • inside the cell becomes more positive
  • influx of Na+
  • +30mV
48
Q

Outline the repolarisation period

A
  • inside the cell becomes more negative
  • K+ leave
49
Q

explain the 2 delayed action events during repolarisation

A
  • Na+ channel inactivation isn’t instataneous (lags slightly behind depolarisation – it overlaps with the opening of K+ channels)
  • K+ channels open slower than Na+ channels (they open when Na+ channels are closed)
50
Q

What is hyperpolarisation

A

K+ channels stay open for longer (more negative than usual – delay)

51
Q

Outline the refractory period

A
  • amount of time before a neuron is ready to start an action potential
52
Q

What does the “all or none” principle mean

A
  • a neuron either fires an action potential or it doesn’t fire at all
  • response of neuron is the same not matter the size of stimulus (always maximum response)
53
Q

How do neurons code the intensity of an input

A
  • firing frequency
  • neuron type
54
Q

How does firing frequency tell you the intensity of the input

A
  • stronger stimulus = higher firing frequency
  • weaker stimulus = lower firing frequency
55
Q

How does the neuron type tell you the intensity of the input

A
  • low threshold neurons = respond to weak stimuli (touch receptors)
  • high threshold neurons = respond to strong stimuli (pain receptors)
56
Q

What is excitability

A

how easy it is to generate an action potential

57
Q

How to increase the firing rate

A
  • increased receptor activation (more frequent stimuli)
  • increased neuronal excitability (lower threshold)
58
Q

What are the dangers of over-excitability

A
  • lead to seizures and muscle spasms because threshold has become too low
59
Q

What is the effect of Lidocaine on excitability

A
  • blocks sodium ion channels
  • raises threshold –> lower excitability –> stops APs locally
  • acts as local anesthetic
60
Q

What is the effect of Carbamazepine on excitability

A
  • inactivates sodium channels
  • raises threshold
  • lowers excitability
  • may prevent seizures
61
Q

What is the effect of Carbamezepine on body

A

may prevent seizures

62
Q

What are the 3 different conformation states channels can have

A
  • close: can’t conduct but can open if stimulated
  • open: can conduct
  • inactivated: close and cannot reopen immediately
63
Q

What are the 2 forces that act on each ion

A
  • chemical
  • electrical
64
Q

What is chemical force

A

ions are driven by diffusion

65
Q

What is electrical force

A

ions move towards areas of opposite charge

66
Q

What are graded potentials

A
  • changes in the membrane potential that vary size depending on the stimulus
  • don’t follow the all-or-none principle
67
Q

What are features of graded potentials

A
  • last longer
  • flatter shape
  • conducted instantly but decreased in strength with distance from stimulus
68
Q

When is conduction fastest

A

myelinated & larger diameter (lower resistance) of neurons

Principles of Med Neuroscience (12 decks)

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