Midterm 1 Flashcards
transmembrane potential
definition and
3 factors contributing to it
Unequal distribution of ions across the plasma membrane because
1. ECF and ICF have different ionic composition
2. Cells have selectively permeable membranes
3. Membrane permeability varies by ion
Intracellular fluid (ICF)
fluid in the cytosol of cells, typically more negative than ECF due to greater amounts of K+ and negatively charged proteins
Extracellular fluid (ECF)
fluid outside the cells; includes intravascular and interstitial fluids, typically more positive than ICF
Passive forces acting across the membrane
chemical and electrical gradients
Common ions in the body
Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca2+
Potassium ion gradients
- K+ predominantly inside of cell
- Chemical Gradient tends to push K+ out of cell
- Electrical Gradient tends to push K+ out of cell
= Net Gradient (Electrochemical Gradient) - forces K+ outside of cell
Sodium ion gradients
-Na+ predominantly outside of the cell
- at the normal resting potential, chemical and electrical gradients combine to drive sodium ions into the cell
Why doesn’t more Na+ move into cell at rest?
There are very few Na+ leak channels into the cell
Resting potential of a nerve cell
-70 mV, with more sodium outside the cell and more potassium inside the cell with negatively charged proteins
Active force acting across the membrane
sodium-potassium ATPase (exchange pump)
Sodium-potassium exchange pump
for each ATP molecule used, 3 Na+ are pumped out of the cell while 2 K+ are pumped into the cell, helps to repolarize the membrane after an action potential, maintain the concentration of potassium and sodium ions across the PM
Why does the transmembrane potential exist across the plasma membrane?
because of a difference in ionic and chemical composition between the cytosol (ICF) and ECF due to locations of sodium and potassium and negatively charged proteins in the cell
Leak channels
channels that are always open and allow ions to move along their gradient
Gated channels
a transmembrane protein channel that opens or closes in response to a particular stimulus, ie. chemically-gated, voltage-gated and mechanically-gated
Chemically gated channels
open with binding of a specific neurotransmitter such as ACh
Voltage-gated channels
open and close in response to changes in transmembrane potential, is closed when membrane potential at resting potential of -70 mV, opens when membrane depolarizes to -60 mV, and is inactivated at +30 mV
Mechanically-gated channels
open and close in response distortion of the membrane
Graded potential
any stimulus that opens a gated channel, involve three steps: depolarization, repolarization and hyperpolarization
Graded potential in a neuron: steps
resting membrane potential is -70 mV with closed chemically-gated sodium ion channels -> membrane exposed to chemical that opes the sodium ion channels -> spread of sodium ions inside the PM produces a local current that depolarizes adjacent portions of the PM
Action potential
propagated changes in transmembrane potential that affect the entire membrane
Threshold for action potential
Level of stimulation needed to trigger a neural impulse, typically -60 mV
All-or-none principle
Refers to the fact that the action potential in the axon occurs either full-blown or not at all.
Axolemma
plasma membrane of an axon, contains both voltage-gated sodium channels and voltage-gated potassium channels that are closed when the membrane is at the resting potential
Depolarization to threshold
The stimulus that initiates an action potential is a graded depolarization large enough to open voltage-gated sodium channels, occurs at -60mV, the threshold.
Activation of sodium channels and rapid depolarization
When the sodium channels activation gates open, the PM becomes much more permeable to Na+. Driven by the large electrochemical gradient, sodium ions rush into the cytoplasm and rapid depolarization occurs. The inner membrane surface now contains more positive ions than negative ones and the transmembrane potential has changed from -60 mV to a positive value
Inactivation of sodium channels and activation of potassium channels
as the transmembrane potential approaches +30 mV, the inactivation gates of the voltage-gated sodium channels close, known as sodium channel inactivation, and it coincides with the opening of voltage-gated potassium channels. Positively charged potassium ions move out of the cytosol, shifting the transmembrane potential back toward resting levels. Repolarization now begins.
Closing of potassium channels step of action potential
The voltage-gated sodium channels remain inactivated until the membrane has depolarized to near threshold levels. At this time, they regain their normal status: closed but capable of opening. The voltage-gated potassium channels begin closing as the membrane potential reaches about -70 mV. Until all the potassium channels have closed, potassium ions continue to leave the cell, this produces a brief hyperpolarization.
Steps of an action potential
1.Depolarization to threshold -60 mv.
2.Activation of sodium channels and rapid depolarization.
3.Inactivation of sodium channels and activation of potassium channels +30 mV.
4.Potassium channels close greater than -70 mV.
Begins and ends with resting potential
Absolute refractory period
time during which another action potential is impossible; limits maximal firing rate, takes place when the voltage-gated sodium channels are open until the membrane starts to repolarize
Relative refractory period
the period of time following an action potential, when it is possible, but difficult, for the neuron to fire a second action potential and requires a larger than normal stimulus, due to the fact that the membrane is further from threshold potential (hyperpolarized)
Continuous propagation
action potentials along an unmyelinated axon, affects one segment of axon at a time
Saltatory propagation
- action potential along myelinated axon
- faster and uses less energy than continuous propagation
- myelin insulates axon, prevents continuous propagation
- local current “jumps” from node to node
- depolarization occurs only at nodes
Steps of continuous propagation
- Action potential develops at initial segment, depolarizes to +30 mV
- As sodium ions entering at initial segment spread away from open voltage-gated channels, a graded depolarization brings second segment to threshold
- An action potential now occurs at the second segment, while initial segment begins to repolarize
- As sodium ions entering second segment spread laterally, a graded depolarization quickly brings the third segment to threshold and the cycle is repeated
Steps of saltatory propagation
- An action potential occurs at the initial segment
- A local current produces a graded depolarization that brings the axolemma at the next node to threshold
- An action potential develops at node 2
- A local current produces a graded depolarization that brings the axolemma at node 3 to threshold
Factors affecting propagation speed
axon diameter and amount of myelination
Type A fibers
myelinated and large diameter fibers, highest conduction speed of up to 268 mph, rare
Type B fibers
myelinated and smaller diameter fibers, moderate conduction rate of 40 mph
Type C fibers
unmyelinated and small diameter fibers, conduction speed of 2 mph
Neural communication
presynaptic neuron -> synapse -> postsynaptic cell
Electrical synapse/gap junction
where two nerve cells are connected by connexons and action potentials move quickly and efficiently, found in heart and eye
Chemical synapse
a type of synapse at which a chemical (a neurotransmitter) is released from the axon of a neuron into the synaptic cleft, where it binds to receptors on the next structure (either another neuron or an organ), can have an excitatory or inhibitory effect
Cholinergic synapse
A synapse that uses acetylcholine as its neurotransmitter
Where are cholinergic synapses found?
- neuromuscular junctions (skeletal muscle)
- many CNS synapses
- all neuron-neuron PNS synapses
- all neuromuscular and neuroglandular junction in PNS
Steps of propagation at a cholinergic synapse
- an arriving action potential depolarizes the axon terminal of a presynaptic neuron
- Calcium ions (Ca2+) enters the cytosol of the axon terminal via voltage-gated Ca2+ channels, resulting in ACh release from the synaptic vesicles by exocytosis
- ACh diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, chemically-gated sodium channel open producing a graded depolarization
- Depolarization ends as ACh is broken down by acetylcholinesterase into acetate and choline, the axon terminal reabsorbs choline from the synaptic cleft and uses it to resynthesizes ACh
information processing
integration of excitatory and inhibitory stimuli
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
leads to depolarization of the cell membrane and action potential propagation
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
leads to hyperpolarization of the cell membrane and a larger than normal stimulus is needed to initiate an action potential
two types of summation
temporal and spatial
temporal summation
on a membrane that receives two depolarizing stimuli from the same source in rapid succession, the effects of the second stimulus are added to the first
1. first stimulus arrives
2. second stimulus arrives and is added to the first stimulus
3. action potential is generated
spatial summation
occurs when sources of stimulation arrive simultaneously but at different location, local currents spread the depolarizing effects and areas of overlap experience the combined effects
sympathetic nervous system nickname
fight or flight
parasympathetic nervous system nickname
rest and digest
organization of somatic nervous system
upper motor neurons located in primary motor cortex in precentral gyrus, somatic motor nuclei synapse directly onto brain and spinal cord, secondary motor neurons can be quite long as they span to reach their target
functions of sympathetic nervous system
- heightened alertness
- increased metabolic rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and heart rate
- reduced digestive and urinary function
- activate of energy reserves and sweat glands
organization of sympathetic division
originate at T1-L2, ganglia are located adjacent to spinal cord except for the adrenal medulla where the ganglia synapses directly onto the medulla
organization of parasympathetic division
originate at brain stem and sacral vertebrae, ganglia are located very close to target organ
functions of parasympathetic division
- decreased metabolic rate, heart rate and blood pressure
- increased secretion by salivary and digestive glands
- increased motility and blood flow in digestive tract
- stimulation of urination and defecation
enteric nervous system
- digestive nervous system
- many local reflexes
- influenced by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous division
sympathetic nervous system neurotransmitters and receptors
- release ACh at central synapses
- releases norepinephrine (NE) at peripheral synapses
- have short preganglionic neurons and long postganglionic neurons
- leads to a releases of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) from adrenal gland into bloodstream
- adrenergic receptors > alpha and beta receptors
parasympathetic nervous system neurotransmitters and receptors
- release ACh at all synapses
- have long preganglionic neurons and short postganglionic neurons
- cholinergic synapses > nicotinic and muscarinic receptors
effects of parasympathetic division
- eyes: constrict pupiles
- salivary glands: stimulate salivation
- heart: slows heartbeat
- lungs: constricts bronchi
- stomach: stimulates digestion
- liver: stimulates bile release
- intestines: stimulates peristalsis and secretion
- bladder: constricts bladder
effects of sympathetic division
- eyes: dilate pupils
- salivary glands: inhibit salivation
- heart: accelerates heartbeat
- lungs: dilates bronchi
- stomach: inhibits digestion
- kidneys: stimulates NE and E releases
- intestines: inhibits peristalsis and secretion
- bladder: dilates bladder
somatic vs sympathetic vs parasympathetic
- somatic NS has heavily myelinated axons and releases ACh, only has stimulatory effect
- sympathetic NS has lighter myelinated preganglionic axons that release ACh at ganglia and NE at effector, or ACh directly onto adrenal medulla
- parasympathetic NS has lightly myelinated preganglionic axons and release ACh at both ganglion and at effector
dual innervation
input from both sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions, can either have opposing or cooperative effects
autonomic tone
- the general degree to which both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions are always on
- allows an increase or decrease in activity levels
- provides a greater range of control, fine tuning
5 main sensory receptors
- mechanoreceptors
- chemoreceptors
- thermoreceptors
- photoreceptors
- nociceptors
mechanoreceptors
respons to touch + pressure stimuli
chemoreceptors
respond to chemical stimuli, smell and taste
thermoreceptors
respond to temperature stimuli
photoreceptors
respond to light for vision