Lecture 1 - Introduction Flashcards
Dendrites
Receive information from other neurons
Axon hillock
Controls the firing
Axon
Transmits the neural signal
Myelin
A fatty substance that insulates some axons, causing information to be transmitted faster
Buttons
Responsible for sending the signal on to other neurons
Synapses
The gap between the terminal buttons and the next neutron
Membrane potential
The difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside of the cell. Stays in resting state until something disturbs the balance
Neuron’s resting potential
-70mv (indicates that the potential inside the neutron is about 70mv less than the outside). In its resting state a neuron is said to be polarised
Sodium ions (Na+)
Mostly outside neuron
Potassium ions (K+)
Mostly inside neuron
Cloride ions (Cl-)
Mostly outside neuron
Diffusion
The force driving molecules to move from areas of higher concentration to areas of low concentration
Electrostatic pressure
Ions move according to charge, like ions repel and unlike ions attract e.g. the -70mv charge attracts the positively charged Na+ ions into resting neurons
Sodium-potassium pump
Preserves/creates membrane potential by pumping out sodium ions and pumpkin potassium ions in (3 Na+ for every 2 K+)
Depolarise
Decrease the resting membrane potential
