Lecture 6 Flashcards
Structure- Function Relationships - Neural Circuits
- Neurons are organized into functional circuits that rapidly conduct info to a target
- a stimulus is concerted into chem/electrical signals that arr carried rapidly through a relay of Neurons called a neural circuit
Neurons vs. Neural Circuits
- Signal reception (input): dendrites
- Signal integration: axon hillock
- Signal Conduction: axon
- Signal Transmission (output): axon terminals
Sensory Neurons
Signal reception (input) - dendrites
Interneurons (2 of them)
- signal integration: axon hillock
- signal conduction: axon
Motor Neurons
Signal Transmission (output): axon terminals
Neural Circuits (alternate between)
- graded and all-or-none signals
- electrical and chemical signals
How do Ligand-Gated ion Channels Work
Convert chemical signals into electrical signals by changing the membrane potentials
What are Graded Potentials
The electrical signals generated by the ligand gated ion channels
What are the graded potentials proportional to
Stimulus strength
Ex. The concentration of neurotransmitter
With no Neurotransmitter
- Ions can not pass through the channel
- ion channel is in the closed conformation
With Low Neurotransmitter
- some ions can cross the membrane
- some are in the open conformation
With High Neurotransmitter
- many ions cross the membrane
- most ion channels are in open confirmation
What can Graded Potentials do:
- depolarize the cell via Na+ and CA2+ channels)
- hyperpolarize the cell via Na+ and Ca- channels
Ions move down
The electrochemical Gradients
Signals Decay Due to:
- Membrane Permeability
- Cytoplasm Resistance
- Decremental Spread or Electronic Conduction
Signals decay due to: 1. Membrane permeability
Leakage of ions across the membrane
Signals decay due to: 2. Cytopasmic resistance
Inherent resistance to current flow
Signals decay due to: 3. Decremental Spread or Electronic Conduction
Signal magnitude decreases as it moves away from the source
Pathway for signals (4 possible):
- Neurotransmitter binds to a ligand-gated Na+ channel
- Na+ enters cell through the open channel
- Current spreads through the cell
- The strength of the signal decreases with distance
Transition from Graded potential to all-or-None Response
Graded Potentials in the axon hillock need to depolarize the membrane beyond the threshold potential for the axon to fire an action potential
Graded Potential are Integraded to Trigger Action Potentials: Spatial Summation
Graded Potentials from different locations can interact to influence the net charge in membrane potential at the axon hillock
Graded Potential are Integraded to Trigger Action Potentials: Excitatory
Signals depolarize the membrane
Graded Potential are Integraded to Trigger Action Potentials: Inhibitory
Signals hyperpolarize the membrane
Graded Potential are Integraded to Trigger Action Potentials: Temporal Summation
Graded potentials occurring at slightly different times can interact to influence the net graded potential
AP triggered when:
Membrane potential at axon hillock reaches threshold potential
Once AP triggered:
AP is an all-or-none response
What Causes rapid changes in Vm;
Caused by ions not electrons
Does AP require ATP
No it does not
Ion Concentration restored by:
Na+/K+ ATP ase