Midterm 1 Flashcards
History of the Neuron
Neuron Doctrine
- The nervous system consists
of discrete individual cells
- Santiago Ramón y Cajal
(1888)
Neuron
- Term coined by Heinrich Wilhem Waldeyer (1891)
What are neurons?
- Specialized biological
cells - In the central nervous
system (CNS) and
the peripheral nervous
system (PNS) - Whose primary function
is information processing
(i.e. computation) and
transmittal
Neuron Cell Body
Structure of a Neuron
Axon
- Axon Hillock
- Myelin sheath & Nodes of Ranvier
- Axon termain
Connection between neurons: Synapses
Axosomatic Synapses
- made in the soma or cell body of a neuron
Axodendric Synapses
- one neuron makes into a dendrite of another neuron
Axo-axonic
- synapses made by one neuron into the synapse of another neuron
Connection between neurons: Synapses Cell
Presynaptic cell
- a neuron that sends information to another neuron via synapse
Synaptic cleft
- a gap between the pre and postsynaptic cells
Postsynaptic cell
- a neuron that receives
Cell Membrane
Lipid (fatty) bilayer
- Prevents flow of ions, proteins, and other water-soluable
Neuron as a “Battery” Difference of Electrical Potential
Extracellular side
- more positive ions
Cytoplasmic side
- more negative ions
Conduits across the membrane
Ion channels
- Na+ , K+ , Ca2+ , Cl -
- Passive transport
- Selective permeability
- Can be gated
Ion pumps
- Na+ /K+ , Ca2+
- Active transport
- Require energy (ATP)
Nongated Ion Channels K +
K + (potassium) channel
- Extracellular side
– Higher electrical potential - Membrane
- Cytoplasmic side
– Higher potassium concentration
Electrochemical equilibrium
- Electrical gradient down
- Concentration gradient up
Nernst Equation
Nongated Ion Channels Na +
Na + (sodium) channel
- Higher electrical potential
- Higher Na+ concentration
Influx of ions
- Electrical gradient down
- Concentration gradient
Sodium/Potassium Pump
For 1 molecule of ATP
(adenosine triphosphate):
- 2 K+ in
- 3 Na+ out
Result:
- Concentration gradients
– Greater Na+ outside
– Greater K+ inside
- Electrical gradient
– Higher potential outside
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Resting membrane potential
Steady state
- Passive & active transport balance out
- Difference of electrical potential: energy source