module 5 - neuronal communication Flashcards
why do cells need to be co-ordinated?
cells in complex organisms perform specific functions which all need to be co-ordinated to operate efficiently (only heart functions independently)
when does cell co-ordination occur?
when there’s a change in external or internal environment
what is cell signalling?
cell will release a chemical that effects its target cell cor-ordinating a response
how can cell signalling occur?
transfer signals locally - neurones at synapses
transfer signals over long distances - using hormones
homeostasis and neuronal communication?
different organisms have different functions and they all need o be co-ordinated to MAINTAIN CONSTANT INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT = homeostasis
neurone structure - cell body
contains nucleus
surrounded by cytoplasm
large amounts of ER and mitochondria
involved in production of neurotransmitters
neurone structure - dendrons
short extensions from the cell body
divide into smaller branches = dendrites
transport electrical impulses INTO cell body
neurone structure - axon
cellular elongated nerve fibre
transmits impulses AWAY from cell body
cylindrical shape
narrow hollow tubes of cytoplasm
surrounded my plasma membrane
neurone type - sensory
transmit impulses from sensory receptor to relay, motor, or to CNS
have 1 dendron - carries impulses into cell body
have 1 axon - carries impulses away from cell body
neurone type - relay
transmits impulses between neurones
e.g sensory to motor
many short axons and dendrons
neurone type - motor
transmits impulse from relay or sensory to effector (muscle or gland)
1 long axon many short dendrites
common pathway of an impulse?
receptor - sensory - relay - motor - effector cell
what are transducers?
convert stimulus to nerve impulse e.g photoreceptor, thermoreceptor, mechanoreceptor
what are sensory receptors?
they’re specific to a single type of stimulus
act as transducers - convert stimulus to nerve impulse
what is the role of sensory receptor?
converts stimulus into electrical impulse
information passed from nervous system to CNS then to effector cell to express desired response
pacinian corpuscle
detect change in pressure (mechanoreceptor)
features of pacinian corpuscle and their role
blood capillary
neurone ending
capsule
layers of connective tissue
neurone
specialised Na+ ion channels called stretch-mediated sodium channels
= channels change shape
= permeability to Na+ changes depending on pressure
= responsible for transportation of Na+ across membrane
how does Pacinian Corpuscle convert mechanical pressure into nerve impulse?
1- at resting state SMSC are too narrow to allow Na+ through
2- pressure applied causes corpuscle to change shape and so the membrane stretches
3- this in turn allows Na+ to diffuse into neurone
4- Na+ influx changes potential of membrane - it becomes depolarised = creates generator potential
5- this generator potential creates an action potential that passes to the sensory neurone
what is resting potential?
the period when no neurone is being transmitted across the membrane
outside os membrane becomes more positively charged then inside the axon
what mv is resting potential?
-70mV as membrane is said to be polarised
what is resting potential a result of?
result of changing movement of Na+ and K+ across membrane
how is action potential reached?
occurs when protein channels change shape the axon membrane due to change in voltage across the membrane
what is the result of action potential being reached?
channels opening and closing (voltage gated ion channels) due to change in protein channel shape
steps that happen during an action potential:
1- at resting potential (no neurone is being transmitted) some of the K+ channels for open (mainly those that are not voltage-gated) and all Na+ channels are closed
2- energy of stimulus triggers Na+ voltage-gated channels to open causing membrane to be more permeable to Na+ (diffuse down electrochemical gradient)
inside of neurone = less negative
3- change in charge causes more Na+ channels to open - POSITIVE FEEDBACK
4- potential difference reaches +40mV so Na+ voltage-gated channels close and k+ open (membrane now more permeable to K+) = HYPERPOLARISATION
5- K+ diffuse out of axon down electrochemical gradient (inside axon more negative)
6- K+ close and Na+open
Propagation of action potential:
1- at resting potential the conc of Na+ is higher outside of the membrane then the inside and the conc of K+ higher on the inside than the outside of the membrane IT IS POLARISED
2- a stimulus will cause a sudden influx of Na+ creating an action potential causing the membrane to DEPOLARISE
3- localised electrical circuit is established by increasing Na+ causing Na+ voltage-gated channels to open further down the axon, K+ channels begin to open as Na+ close. K+ leave axon down the electrochemical gradient
4- action potential is propagated further down the axon causing the membrane behind the action potential to return to its original charge as its REPOLARISED
5- axon membrane returns to its resting potential ready for new stimulus
what are the key components of a synapse?
synaptic cleft
presynaptic neurone
postsynaptic neurone
synaptic knob
synaptic vesicles
neurotransmitter receptors