Neuronal communication Flashcards
3 key features of a neurone
Cell body, dendrons and axons
what are the 3 types of neurone and their order?
Receptor-sensory neurone-relay neurone-motor neurone-effector
What makes a myelinated neurone
Schwann cells which wrap around the axon leaving gaps in between called the nodes of Ranvier.
What does Myelinated neurones allow?
Quicker transmission of electrical impulses as the electrical impulse jumps from one node to the next
2 features of sensory receptors
-Specific to a single type of stimulus
-Acts as a transducer (concerts a stimulus into a nerve impulse-produces a generator potential )
What is the stimulus for a mechanoreceptor?
pressure or movement
What is a pacinian corpuscle?
They are nerve endings in the skin, responsible for sensitivity to deep pressure touch and high frequency vibration.
What type of sodium channel does pacinian corpuscle have?
stretch-mediated sodium channel (when they stretch their permeability to Na changes)
5 steps involved in generating an action potential in the Pacinian corpuscle
- the neurone has a resting potential as the Na channel is too narrow
- When pressure is applied the corpuscle changes shape and the membrane around the neurones stretches
- Where the membrane stretches the Na channels widen allow Na+ to diffuse into neurone
- The influx Na+ depolarises the membrane creating a generator potential
- Generator potential creates an action potential
What is the resting potential (value)
-70mV
What causes the resting potential?
- 3 Na+ are actively transported out of the axon and 2 K+ are actively transported into the axon by sodium- potassium pump
- most of the sodium ion channels are voltage-gated so they cannot diffuse back into the axon
-potassium ion channels are open so they can freely diffuse out of the axon - negatively charged proteins in the axon
What value does depolarisation occur at
+40mV
6 steps of creating an action potential
- neurone has a resting potential
- The energy of a stimulus triggers some voltage-gated sodium channels to open, therefore allowing Na+ to diffuse into the axon down electrochemical gradient
- positive feedback occurs so more sodium channels open
- Once +40mV has been reached, Na voltage gated channels close and K voltage gated channels to open
- K+ diffuse out making the inside of the axon more negative again known as hyperpolarisation, now both voltage gated channels are closed
- the axon returns to resting potential- repolarised
How does an action potential cause an electrical impulse?
Positive feedback when the voltage gated sodium channels open. So when an action potential depolazizes the membrane it activates adjacent ones too. Refractory period means it can only be propagated forwards.
What is the refractory period?
a period immediately following stimulation during which a nerve or muscle is unresponsive to further stimulation.
It prevents the propagation of action potentials backwards along the axon
What is salatory conduction?
- the action potential cannot occur where the myelin sheath is present as it is insulated
- increased influx at nodes
- As a result it jumps between the nodes of ranvier
What are the advantages of salatory conduction?
- faster
-more energy efficient as reduces the amount of repolarisation needed
What other two factors affect the speed of action potentials
axon diameter- the bigger the faster because less resistance from the cytoplasm
temperature- higher temp the faster as ions diffuse quicker until 40 degrees plus denature occurs