Nervous system Flashcards

1
Q

What is communication and a example

A
  • connections between cells
  • hormones: centrally secreted, act locally
  • second messengers: signal transduction within cells
    ex: plasmodesmata, gap junctions
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2
Q

All of these move by…
What is faster?

A

All move by slow diffusion
Electricity is way faster

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3
Q

How do we communicate with electric signals?

A
  • Communication via electrical signals through nerve cells = neurons
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4
Q

Parts of the neuron

A

Cell body: has nucleus. Integrates incoming electrical signals

Dendrites: convert chemical signals to electrical signals. Sends towards the cell body

Axon: Conducts electrical signals out the cell body

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5
Q

Both axon and dendrite can do what and form what?

A

Both axon and dendrite branch out can form networks: electrical signal travel very fast

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6
Q

Networks are for

A

Network for information flow

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7
Q

Synapses are?

A

Connections between neurons (axon - dendrite) are called synapses

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8
Q

Explain electrical signal and chemical signals in the neuron?

A

Electrical signal is interrupted at the synapse: Chemical signals moves between axon terminal and dendrite

Starts a new electrical signal in the next neuron

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9
Q

Membrane potential of neurons is what kind of potential?
What are the charges on the outside and inside of the cell

A

Electrical potential across the membrane

Outside of cell: more positive charges

Inside of cell: more negative charges

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10
Q

What establishes the electrochemical gradient

A

NA+/K+ ATPase establishes electrochemical gradient

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11
Q

Explain process for resting potential

A

K+ leak channel allows K + only to flow along concentration gradient: Membrane potential increases → at equilibrium “Resting potential”

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12
Q

What channel closes? And what happens if it opens? What happens if you close it again

A

Na+ channel is closed

What happens if it opens? fewer positive charges outside and more positive charges in the inside. Overall voltage increases

Original polarity of the membrane disappears: The membrane is depolarized

If we close the channel again? Everything goes back to normal. The membrane will be repolarized

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13
Q

How the sodium-potassium pump works 8 steps

A
  1. Unbound protein
  2. Sodium binding
  3. Shape change
  4. Release
  5. Unbound protein
  6. Potassium binding
  7. Shape Change
  8. Release
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14
Q

Action potential: What are the three phases:

A
  1. Depolarization phase
  2. Repolarization phase
  3. Hyperpolarization phase
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15
Q

What causes the opening of the Na+ channel?

A
  • Change in membrane potential

Na+ channel is a voltage gated ion channel

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16
Q

Steps for Na+ entering

A

Steps:

  1. Na+ enters axon, attracts negative and repelling positive charges
  2. Charge spreads: depolarizes
  3. Downstream voltage-gated channel opens in response to depolarization
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17
Q

The action potential spreads as as wave of what?
Why it doesn’t go backwards

A

Action potential spreads as a wave of depolarization

Why is it not going backwards: Hyperpolarization leads to a short refractory period

18
Q

Speed of the action potential…

A
  • speed by which action potential propagates depends on the diameter of the axon
  • the large the axon, the faster charges will move
19
Q

Invertebrates have what?
Examples?

A
  • Invertebrates have large axons
    • squids, locust, earthworm
20
Q

What do vertebrates need?

A
  • Vertebrates need smaller axons
  • achieve fast propagation by adding insulation
21
Q

Axons are surrounded by what?
What does it not have… and this provides what?

A
  • axons are surrounded by sheets of myelin: Schwann cell
  • No active ion channels, provides electrical insulation
22
Q

What are nodes of ranvier?

A

area in between each Schwann cell

23
Q

Explain myelination (3 steps to it)

A
  1. Myelination prevents ions from leaking out
  2. Action potentials are regenerated at the next node of Ranvier
  3. Signals continue to jump down the axon
24
Q

Axons can be what
At the terminal they connect to…
What is that connection called

A

Axons can be very long or short

at the terminal, they connect to a dendrite of the next neuron

that connection is called a synapse

25
Q

Types of Synapse neurons:

A

Presynaptic neuron: before the synapse

Postsynaptic neuron: after the synapse

26
Q

Action potential movements:

A

Action potential moves down axon: electrical signal

Action potential moves down dendrite: electrical signal

27
Q

What is the synaptic cleft?

A

Synaptic cleft: between cells. When travelling across synaptic cleft: chemical signal

28
Q

Neurotransmitters are stored where?

A

Neurotransmitters: stored in synaptic vesicles

29
Q

What happens when the action potential arrive at the synaptic cleft

A

Calcium channels open - Neurotransmitters released

Neurotransmitters bind receptors: ligand gated ion channels - ions enter into dendrite

30
Q

SUMMARY: Explain steps from when action potential arrives near synaptic cleft

A
  1. Action potential arrivers near synaptic cleft
  2. Voltage-gated: Calcium channels open: calcium enters presynaptic cell
  3. Synaptic vesicles fuse with presynaptic membrane and release neurotransmitters
  4. Ions channels in postsynaptic membrane open when neurotransmitters bind to receptors. Flow of ions causes change in postsynaptic membrane potential
  5. Ion channels in postsynaptic membrane close when neurotransmitters unbind from receptors
31
Q

Neurotrasmitters can:

A
  • Can modulate signals: excitatory or inhibitory
    • action potential more or less frequent
32
Q

Common neurotransmitters:

A
  • common neurotransmitters: need to be rapidly broken down in the synaptic cleft
  • Otherwise postsynaptic neuron would fire constantly
  • For example: acetylcholine esterase breaks down acetylcholine
33
Q

Inhibitors are used as

A
  • inhibitors are used as drugs or nerve gases
34
Q

examples of neurotransmitters

A
  • acetylcholine
  • noradrenaline
  • dopamine
  • serotonine
  • glutamate
35
Q

Most neurons receive signals from what?

A

Most neurons receive signals from many synapses

36
Q

Action potential and its frequency is a combined result of…

A

of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. (EPSP and IPSP)

37
Q

Remember: action potential is

What does/does not change

A

is all or none

amplitude does not change

but frequency does change

38
Q

Connecting neurons are and what do they connect?

A

Interneurons: connect the sensory and motor neurons

39
Q

Sensors: Sensory Neurons

A
  • generate action potential in response to external stimulus (transduction)
  • action potential moves through interneurons to CNS (transmission)
40
Q

Types of receptors:

A
  • Mechanoreceptors: detect distortion or pressure
  • Photoreceptors: detects light of specific wavelength
  • Chemoreceptors: detects specific molecules
  • Thermoreceptors: detects temperature change
  • Nocireceptors: detect pain
  • Electroreceptors: detect electric fields
  • Magnetoreceptors: detect magnetic fields