neuronal communication Flashcards
you will prefer stepping on legos once you complete this
describe the sensory neurones structure and function
- dendron from receptors in skin
- axon leading to another neurone
- cell body joining dendron and
axon - transmits impulse from sensory receptor cell to relay neurone, motor neurone or brain (CNS)
what is homeostasis?
maintenance of a stable internal environmental within tolerable limits
describe the structure and function of a relay neurone
- cell body in centre with lots of dendrites and axons coming out of it
- transmits impulses between neurones
describe the structure and function of a motor neurone
- cell body with dendrites coming off it
- one long axon in direction of impulse
- myelinated
- schwann cells and nodes of ranvier
- transmits impulse from sensory or relay neurone to effector
what are the key features of a neurone?
cell body
- DNA in a nucleus and lots of RER and mitochondria
dendrons
- protrusions from cell body connected to other cells
axons
- carry impulse away from cell body
what is the myelin sheath and why is it important?
- made of many layers of schwann cell membranes
- insulates the axon which helps increase speed of impulse
what are nodes of ranvier and why are they important?
- gaps between adjacent schwann cells where saltatory conduction occurs
- where axon depolarises
what is saltatory conduction?
- depolarisation of the axon
- impulse can “jump” from one node to another
what is the role of a receptor?
detect a stimulus
what structure are receptors?
specialised cells or peripheral endings of neurone
what transduction of energy occurs at receptors?
stimulus/mechanical energy (light, touch) to electrical energy
what are pacinian corpuscles?
mechanoreceptors found deep in skin of hands or feet
describe the structure of a pacinian corpuscle
- non myelinated terminal of a neurone
- surrounded by connective tissue
what ions channels are located in the neurone ending at the corpsucle?
stretch mediated ion channels
describe how a stretch mediated ion channel works in a corpuscle
- high conc sodium ions outside axon and is less positive inside
- when pressure is applied the gates open and sodium ions diffuse into sensory neurone down electrochemical gradient and becomes depolarised
- this creates a generator potential
- if enough pressure is applied, an action potential is produced
describe the components and events involved in a reflex arc
- receptor cells detect a stimulus and sends an electrical impulse along sensory neurone
- it passes over synapse to relay neurone in CNS and the motor neurone to effector cells which triggers them to react
describe how resting potential is generated
- active transport of 2 K+ into cell for every 3 Na+ out of cell which uses a sodium potassium pump
- results in more Na+ outside and more K+ inside
- the uneven distribution causes facilitated diffusiondown electrochemical gradient
- membrane is more permeable to K+ as more K+ ion channels are open than sodium ones so ends up more Na2+ and K+ outside than K+ inside
what is the value of resting potential?
-70mV
describe how an action potential is generated
- energy of stimulus causes Na+ voltage gated ion channels to open and increase membrane permeability to Na+
- sodium ions diffuse into axon making the outside less negative
- change of pd causes more voltage gated ion channels to open and more Na+ to diffuse in (positive feedback)
- continues until pd hits +40mV
describe the propagation of a nerve impulse as localised circuits
- depolarisation can only occur at nodes of ranvier where no myelin is present
- Na+ can pass through membrane at nodes
- longer localised circuits arise between nodes
- action potential jumps from nod to node
- repolarisation uses ATP so having fewer nodes makes the impulse more efficient
describe how a resting potential is re-established after and action potential
- once membrane reaches pd +40mV Na2+ channels close and K+ channels open
- more k+ outside the membrane causes hyperpolarisation
- eventually k+ channels close and sodium ions start diffusing down the electrochemical gradient
- sodium potassium pump starts working again and re-establishes the resting potential
how does myelination affect speed of impulse?
allowing depolarisation at certain points in the membrane makes transmission faster as it doesn’t have to occur at every point along the membrane
how does axon diameter affect speed of impulse?
large diameter means faster flow as there is less resistance to flow of ions in cytoplasm
how does temperature affect speed impulse?
- ions diffuse faster at a higher temperatures
- occurs up to 40C as proteins denature
what is the all or nothing principle?
if the stimulus is not strong enough then there is not enough depolarisation to reach threshold value so action potential doesn’t occur
what is the refractory period?
hyperpolarisation after the action potential which prevents a stimulus leading to a second action potential
what is the importance of the refractory period?
ensures action potential:
- are discrete impulses
- do not overlap
- are unidirectional
what is the synaptic cleft?
gap that separates axon of one neurone and dendrite of the next which is 20-30nm across
what is the synaptic knob?
swollen end of the presynaptic neurone that contains lots of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria
what are the two types of neurotransmitter?
excitatory and inhibitory
why are mitochondria and ER in abundance in knob?
bulk transport required energy and synthesis of vesicles
what does an excitatory neurotransmitter do?
results in the depolarisation of the postsynaptic neurone which results in an action potential if threshold is reached
what does an inhibitory neurotransmitter do?
results in the hyperpolarisation of the postsynaptic neurone which prevents an action potential
what is the process of synaptic signal transmission?
- action potential arrives at the presynaptic neurone and depolarises the membrane causing Ca2+ voltage gated ion channels to open
- ions diffusion into presynaptic knob which causes synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters to fuse to the membrane and release them via exocytosis
- they diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to specific receptor molecules on the post synaptic membrane
- Na+ ion channels open and sodium ions diffuse into postsynaptic neurone and cause a new action potential
what molecule breaks down ACh and into what?
acetylcholinesterase into acetate and choline
what is summation?
combination of graded potentials in postsynaptic neurone
what is spatial summation?
the sum of excitatory potentials from different neurones triggering an action potential
what is temporal summation?
many excitatory potentials from one neurone in quick succession