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BIOM*3200 > Lecture 3 - Intro to Neurophysiology > Flashcards

Lecture 3 - Intro to Neurophysiology Flashcards

1
Q

How many molecules (phospholipids) thick is the cell membrane?

A

2

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2
Q

Where are the hydrophobic tails?

A

On the inside of the bilayer

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3
Q

Where are the polar head groups

A

On the outside of the bilayer

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4
Q

How do molecules cross the Cell Membrane?

A

By simple diffusion - no consumption of ATP

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5
Q

What happens during simple diffusion of small uncharged molecules?

A

Small uncharged molecules (relatively lipid soluble) can diffuse through the lipid bilayer (steroid hormones)

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6
Q

What happens during simple diffusion of small charged molecules?

A

Ions can diffuse through water filled pores

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7
Q

What are the two types of Ion Channels?

A

1.) “Leaky”, ions can flow in or out as needed

2.) Voltage Gated - can only be opened or closed by gates

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8
Q

What is Active Transport?

A

Needs metabolic energy (usually ATP) to move molecules into and out of cell

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9
Q

What does the Na+/K+ ATPase do?

A

Move Na+ out of cell and K+ into the cell

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10
Q

What type of transport is ATP synthase?

A

Primary active transport

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11
Q

What is primary active transport?

A

Uses ATP directly

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12
Q

What do cell membranes act as?

A

Barriers to chemical movement

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13
Q

What do Integral Membrane proteins act as?

A

Transporters

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14
Q

What is Active Transport of Na+/K+ important for?

A

Establishing the electrochemical gradient

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15
Q

What are Ion channels especially important for?

A

They help produce electrical impulses that transmit information rapidly

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16
Q

What do all cells in the body have?

A

A potential difference - or voltage - across the membrane. This is called resting membrane potential

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17
Q

What is the charge of the inside of the cell compared ti the outside?

A

The inside of the side is negative

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18
Q

What is the charge of a neuron at rest?

A

-70 mV

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19
Q

What are voltage gated ion channels important for?

A

Electrical activity in axons because when the channels open, they can change the membrane potential of the cell

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20
Q

Where is Na+ at the start of action potentials?

A

Outside of the cell (pos)

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21
Q

Where is K+ at the start of action potentials?

A

Inside of the cell (neg.)

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22
Q

What is an Action Potential?

A

Signals that o along the nerves, taking the signal from one place to another place

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23
Q

How do Neurons propagate signals?

A

In the form of action potentials

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24
Q

What causes Action Potentials to be momentary discharges (depolarizations) of the resting membrane potential?

A

The rapid influx of Na+ caused by the opening of sodium ion channels

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25
Q

What do signals have to continuously be during an Action Potential?

A

Reamplified along the way using voltage-gated ion channels

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26
Q

What type of channel do Na+ and K+ move through?

A

Gated channels

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27
Q

What happens during appropriate stimulation?

A

Positive charges flow into the cell, so the cell becomes more POSITIVE then the resting potential (depolarizationO)

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28
Q

Where does an Action Potential start?

A

Axon Hillock

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29
Q

What does the explosive increase in Na+ permeability result in?

A

A rapid reversal of membrane potential in that region, from -70mV to +30mV (depolarization)

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30
Q

What happens once the cell has reached a depolarized state?

A

The Na+ channels close. There is a rapid decrease in Na+ permeability

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31
Q

How does the cell repolarize?

A

K+ which is also positively charged will diffuse out of the cell, making the inside of the cell less positive (or more negative) again, restoring the original resting membrane potential

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32
Q

What is constantly working within the plasma membrane?

A

The Na+ and K+ pumps

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33
Q

Because opening the gated Na+ and K+ channel is stimulated by depolarization, what are the ion channels in the axon said to be?

A

Voltage-Regulated or Voltage-Gated Channels

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34
Q

What does membrane potential not normally become more positive than and why?

A

+30mV because the Na+ channels quickly close and the K+ channels open.

35
Q

What is the amplitude (size) of action potentials?

A

ALL or NONE principle

36
Q

What happens if depolarization reaches the threshold?

A

The maximum potential change is reached

37
Q

What are Action Potentials sometimes called?

A

Spike Potentials

38
Q

What happens in non-myelinated axons?

A

The action potential passes smoothly along the axon and all parts of the membrane are depolarized

39
Q

What happens in myelinated axons?

A

The action potentials jumps between the non-insulated nodes of Ranvier by saltatory conduction

40
Q

What does myelination allow for?

A

Allows for more rapid movement of the action potentials, and needs less energy to restore the membrane of the action potential has been transmitted

41
Q

What does the refractory period help?

A

Ensure the AP only goes in one direction down the axon to its end

42
Q

What happens once action potentials reach the end of the axon?

A

They stimulate the next cell

43
Q

In the CNS, what is the 2nd cell that an action potential would reach?

A

A neuron

44
Q

In the PNS, what is the 2nd cell that an action potential would reach?

A

A neuron or an effector cell within a muscle or gland via the neuromuscular junction

45
Q

What direction does a synapse go in?

A

Pre-synaptic to Post-SYnaptic

46
Q

What do presynaptic nerve endings release?

A

Neurotransmitters that stimulate APs in the post synaptic cell

47
Q

What do pre-synaptic neurons end in?

A

A terminal bouton and it is separated from the post-synaptic cell by a tiny cleft ~10nm in size.

48
Q

What are the four steps of a synaptic transmission?

A

1.) Action Potentials reach axon terminals

2.) Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels open

3.) Ca2+ binds to sensor protein in cytoplasm

4.) Ca2+ protein complex stimulates fusion and exocytosis of neurotransmitters

49
Q

What happens on the post-synaptic side?

A

The neurotransmitter binds to its receptor on the dendrite causing ion channels on the post synaptic dendrite to open

50
Q

What type of regulation is the post synaptic channels?

A

Chemically regulated which stimulates the cell to produce an A.P

51
Q

What is the EPSP?

A

Excitatory postsynaptic potential (depolarization in post0synaptic neuron

52
Q

What is the “patch clamp” recording technique?

A

Technique for recording electrical currents in a spinal neuron grown in cell culture

53
Q

How is the “patch clamp” recorded?

A

It is recording voltage for a certain area of the cell membrane over time (Electrical changes at one place)

54
Q

What are neuromuscular disorders characterized by?

A

Delayed relaxation of skeletal muscle after voluntary contraction or electrical stimulation

55
Q

What can neuromuscular disorders be caused by?

A

Mutations in muscle Cl- channel

56
Q

What does a mutation in the Cl- channel cause?

A

The channel gates to not open properly and repolarization delayed, several APs fire instead of just one

57
Q

What is Myotonia in Goats?

A

When startled or excited it causes a temporary stiffening of the muscles. When the muscles relax after a few seconds, the animal jumps up and continues on its way.

58
Q

What is the approximate speed of a neuron?

A

30 - 90 m/sec

59
Q

What is the present that your brain comprehends?

A

Around 500 milliseconds behind what is actually happening, as your brain scrambles frantically to keep up and maintain coherence.

60
Q

What type of matter is the CNS composed of?

A

Grey Matter and White Matter

61
Q

What does the grey matter contain?

A

Neuronal cell bodies and dendrites

62
Q

Where is the grey matter found?

A

In the cortex (surface layer) of the brain and deeper within the brain in aggregations known as nuclei

63
Q

What does white matter consist of?

A

Axon tracts (myelin sheaths produce white colour) that underlie the cortex and that surround the nuclei.

64
Q

What is the Dura Mater?

A

Tough two layers right below skull

65
Q

What is the Arachnoid Mater?

A

Webbed like right below dura mater

66
Q

What is the Pia Mater?

A

Innermost membrane, clings to surface of brain/spinal cord, follows every fold.

67
Q

Where is the brain encased in?

A

The skull and protected by several tough layers of connective tissue (the meninges)

68
Q

What layers protect the spinal cord?

A

The same meningeal layers that protect the spinal cord

69
Q

In addition to the skull and meninges, what is the brain protected by?

A

Two fluid cushions that give some protection for the brain again head traumas

70
Q

What is the outer cavity?

A

The superior sagittal sinus (SSS) - sits under Dura Mater

71
Q

What is the inner cavity?

A

The subarachnoid space (sits between arachnoid and Pia mater

72
Q

What are the cavities of the brain and spinal cord filled with?

A

Cerebrospinal Fluid

73
Q

What is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) similar in?

A

Composition to blood plasma

74
Q

What is a CSF tap?

A

When a sample of CSF can be examined for signs of disease such as bacteria, virus, Multiple sclerosis

75
Q

How many nerves are there?

A

31 pairs of spinal nerves

76
Q

What is each nerve composed of?

A

Sensory and motor fibers, packed together separated near the attachment of the nerve to the spinal cord

77
Q

Where does the spinal cord extend from?

A

The brain stem, to the pelvic region, ending before the end of the vertebral column.

78
Q

Where do nerves enter or leave the spinal cord?

A

In between the vertebrae

79
Q

Where do the interneurons communicate?

A

Along the length of the spinal cord

80
Q

Where can an afferent sensory stimulus be translated?

A

Up or down the spinal cord by interneurons

81
Q

What is the “simple” withdrawal reflex?

A

A response to a painful stimulus involving the contraction of several muscles, the relaxation of other muscles and it may also involve responses that are initiated in the brain

82
Q

What can reflexes be useful for?

A

Distinguishing between upper and lower motor damage

83
Q

What will the knee jerk reflex be with lower motor neuron damage?

A

Diminised

84
Q

What will the knee jerk reflex be with upper motor neuron damage?

A

Exaggerated/slightly normal

BIOM*3200 (8 decks)

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