molecules to nerves Flashcards
central nervous system = brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system = autonomic nervous system ((para)/sympathetic) involuntary and somatic (motor and sensory) voluntary
explain the basis of electrical potential generation of cells with the sodium potassium pump and how this helps neurones
- sodium potassium pump in the membrane of cells transports 3Na+ out cell and 2K+ into cell with use of ATP
- this helps to maintain high Na+ conc outside cell and high K+ conc inside cell (useful for neurones)
- preserving these differences in ion concs, helps stabilise cell membrane potential
- this function is critical for neurones to be able to fire action potentials
K+ permeability sets up potential difference across permeable membrane
explain why there is a negative potential within the cell/membrane at resting potential
- At rest most cells are more permeable to K+ due to facilitated diffusion through K+ channels
- k+ ions tend to move out of cell as conc of k+ is lower outside than inside
- large anions cannot follow so negative potential develops on inside of membrane
what is the neurones resting potential
-65mV
explain how a neurone action potential is caused
- neurotransmitter sent across the synapse binds to receptor
- this stimulates the opening of sodium and potassium channels = 2 K+ leaving and entering of Na+ and Ca2+
- the influx of positive ions into the cell (depolarisation) increases the potential from -65 to around-55mV which is the threshold potential to which the rest of the action potential is fired
- as the threshold potential is reached, it also stimulates the opening of sodium channels in the axon and this is what sets off the action potential
at what voltage does the cell begin to repolarise at
+ 20mv
what lengths do the axons of the cell body range from
1mm - 1m
what are the basic structures of a neurone
cel body
dendrites
axon
terminal branches of axon
myelin insulates axons
what are the 3 types of neurotransmitters in the central nervous system
- excitatory
- inhibitory
- neuromodulators
give some examples of excitatory, inhibitory and neuromodulator neurotransmitters
excitatory(Na+/Ca2+) = acetylcholine, adrenaline, dopamine, histamine
inhibitory (Cl- / K+) = glycine, gamma aminobutyric acid
neuromodulators = endorphins, enkephalins
each neurotransmitter can bind to multiple different receptor subtypes
what are receptor gating mechanisms
conformational changes in the receptor that occur upon ligand binding or unbinding to open or close the ion channel and affect the functional state of the receptor
- a mechanism capable of controlling the flow of information from one set of neurons to another
synaptic transmission is always UNIDIRECTIONAL