Neurobiology (Exam 1) Flashcards

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1
Q

Membrane Potential

A
  • Voltage difference across the membrane (v or mv)
  • Arises from unequal distribution of ions
  • Changes w/ selective movement of ions across the membrane
  • Rate of ion movement is proportional to the difference between membrane and equilibrium potential (driving force)
    • The larger the difference, the stronger the driving force
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2
Q

Equilibrium Potential

A
  • Membrane potential when the net flow of an ion is zero
  • When concentration gradient and electrochemical gradients are equal and opposite to one another
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3
Q

What is the resting membrane potential of neurons?

A

~70mV

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4
Q

Resting Membrane Potential

A
  • Relies heavily on K+ leak current
  • Neurons maintain concentration gradients via active transport
  • Na/K pump, leaky channels, and ions all contribute to this
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5
Q

Graded Potentials

A
  • Short distance signals that occur in dendrites and cell bodies
  • Vary in magnitude and duration
    • Based on strength of stimulus
  • Created by ligand-gated channels
  • Decay over short distances
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6
Q

Action Potentials

A
  • Long distance all-or-none signals that maintain the same magnitude, duration, and amplitude
  • Move from the axon hillock to axon terminal only
    • Due to the inactivation of voltage-gated Na+ channels
  • Weak stimulus leads to a low frequency of action potentials
  • Strong/supra-threshold stimulus leads to high frequency of action potentials
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7
Q

Types of Neurons

A

Multipolar, bipolar, unipolar, efferent, afferent, interneuron

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7
Q

Steps of Neurotransmitter Release

A
  1. Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels open, Ca2+ flows into the cell and pushes vesicles toward the plasma membrane
  2. Ca2+ ions change the conformation of SNARE proteins, which causes the vesicles to fuse with the plasma membrane
  3. Neurotransmitter is released and binds to receptor on post-synaptic cell
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8
Q

Multipolar

A

Several processes off of cell body

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9
Q

Bipolar

A

Two processes off of cell body

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10
Q

Unipolar

A

One process off of cell body + branches

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10
Q

Efferent Neuron

A
  • Carries info from CNS to PNS
  • Motor neuron (multipolar)
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11
Q

Afferent Neuron

A
  • Carries info from PNS to CNS
  • Sensory neuron (unipolar)
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12
Q

Interneuron

A
  • Carries info from one neuron to another
  • Multipolar
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13
Q

Temporal Summation

A

Converts a rapid series of weak pulses from a single source into one large signal

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14
Q

Spatial Summation

A

Several weak signals from different locations into one large signal

15
Q

Types of Neurotransmitters

A
  • Amino acids
  • Neuropeptides
  • Biogenic amines
  • Acetylcholine
16
Q

Ionotropic Receptors

A
  • Receptors + channel is the same protein
    • Neurotransmitter binds, channel opens, ions flow through
16
Q

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters

A

Generates IPSPS (hyperpolarization)

17
Q

Excitatory Neurotransmitters

A

Generates EPSPS (depolarization)

18
Q

What causes depolarization (action potential graph)?

A

Ligand-gated channels open at threshold, Na+ enters

18
Q

Metabatrophic Receptors

A
  • Receptor + channel are different proteins
    -Neurotransmitter binds + activates pathway to open a separate channel
19
Q

What enables the transition from absolute to relative refractory period?

A

Opening of the inactivation gate

20
Q

Absolute Refractory Period

A

Time during which no new AP can occur, occurs from onset of AP until the end of Na+ channel inactivation

21
Q

What causes repolarization (action potential graph)?

A

Voltage-gated K+ channels open and K+ leaves

22
Q

What results from hyper-polarization (action potential graph)?

A

Voltage gated K+ channels close

23
Q

Relative Refractory Period

A

When a larger depolarization is needed to reach the threshold due to hyper-polarization

24
Q

Neuron

A
  • Fundamental unit of the nervous system
  • Uses changes in membrane potential to communicate signals across long distances
25
Q

What Quickens the Action Potential Conduction Velocity

A
  • Quicker when the axon is heavily myelinated
  • Quicker when the axon has a large diameter
    - Current spreads farther + decays slower
26
Q

Dendrites Function

A

Receives information from other neurons

27
Q

Rough ER Function

A

Protein synthesis

28
Q

Cell Body (soma) Function

A

Keeps cell functional

29
Q

Axon Hillock Function

A

Generates impulse in the neuron

30
Q

Myelin Sheath Function

A

Increases speed of signal

31
Q

Nodes of Ranvier Function

A

APS jump between these (saltatory conduction)

32
Q

Axon Function

A

Transfers signals to other cells; stimulus must surpass threshold potential here

33
Q

Axon terminal Function

A

Forms junctions with other cells

34
Q

Synapse Function

A

Transmits info; neurotransmitter carries message to next cell