Neuronal Excitability and Nervous System Flashcards

1
Q

Afferent division of nervous system

A

Somatic and special senses

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2
Q

Efferent division of nervous system

A

Control muscles, motor output

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3
Q

Neuron parts

A

Axon terminal, axon, cell body, dendrites

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4
Q

Interneurons

A

Association neurons

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5
Q

Three classifications of neurons

A

Sensory, interneuron, efferent

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6
Q

Efferent neurons

A

Motor neurons

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7
Q

Dendrites

A

Sensory receptors (receive signals)

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8
Q

Glial cell types

A

Oligodendrocytes, microglia, astrocytes, ependymal cells

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9
Q

Satellite glial cell function

A

Support neuron cell bodies

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10
Q

Glial cell function

A

Provide physical and biochemical support to neurons

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11
Q

Which glial cells form myelin shealths?

A

Oligodendrocytes (schwann cells)

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12
Q

Which glial cells help form the blood brain barrier, provide substrates for ATP production, secrete neurotrophic factors, and take up K+ , water and neurotransmitters?

A

Astrocytes

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13
Q

Ependymal cell functions

A

Source of neural stem cells, create barriers between compartments

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14
Q

Which two glial cells are a source of neural stem cells?

A

Astrocytes, ependymal cells

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15
Q

Which glial cells are the most numerous?

A

Astrocytes

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16
Q

Microglia function

A

Phagocytes (scavengers) –> remove debris, damaged cells, pathogens

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17
Q

Pia matter

A

Inner covering around the brain

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18
Q

Node of Ranvier

A

Areas of an axon between myelin sheath (between shwann cells) –> gaps in myelination

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19
Q

Functions of myelin sheath

A

Electrical insulation, found in CNS and PNS, makes up white matter

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20
Q

Difference between schwann cells and oligodendrocytes

A

Oligodendrocytes = CNS
Schwann cells = PNS

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21
Q

Resting membrane potential

A

Electrical potential difference across plasma membrane (negative inside cell, positive outside of cell)

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22
Q

Leak channels

A

Randomly open and close, allowing K+/Na+ to penetrate the membrane and move outside/inside of the cell (down concentration gradient)

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23
Q

Ligand-gated channel

A

Opens or closes in response to specific ligand (chemical) stimulus (allows Na+ and K+ to move down concentration gradients)

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24
Q

Mechanically-gated channel

A

Open or close in response to touch, pressure, tissue stretching, vibration (mechanical stimulation)

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25
Q

Voltage-gated channel

A

Opens in response to change in membrane potential (voltage)

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26
Q

Nernst Equation

A

Describes membrane potential that a single ion would produce if the membrane were permeable to only that ion

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27
Q

Influence of membrane potential

A
  1. concentration gradient of ions
  2. membrane permeability to those ions
28
Q

GHK Equation

A

Predicts membrane potential that results from the contribution of all ions that can cross the membrane –> resting membrane potential is determined by the combined contributions of the (concentration gradient x membrane permeability) of each ion

29
Q

Resting membrane potential is primary determined by

A

K+ concentration gradient (due to K+ leak channels), cell’s resting permeability to K+, Na+, Ca+

30
Q

Depolarization

A

Membrane potential becomes less polarized (less negative)

31
Q

Hyperpolarizing

A

Membrane potential becomes more polarized (more negative)

32
Q

Graded potentials

A

Local changes in membrane potential, decrease in strength as they spread out from the point of origin (large stimulus= large potential, vice versa)

33
Q

Graded potentials can be…

A

Hyperpolarizations or depolarizations

34
Q

Suprathreshold graded potential

A

Will trigger an action potential

35
Q

Subthreshold graded potential

A

Is not strong enough to generate an action potential because it is subthreshold when it reaches the trigger zone

36
Q

Strength of graded potential is determined by

A

The strength of the stimulus

37
Q

Summation

A

Multiple graded potentials can increase the strength of the signal - signals can come from multiple neurons, if sum of graded potentials reaches threshold, will cause an action potential

38
Q

Strength of initial depolarization in a graded potential is determined by

A

How much charge enters the cell

39
Q

Why do graded potentials lose strength as they move through the cell?

A

Current leak, cytoplasmic resistance

40
Q

Trigger zone

A

Axon hillock

41
Q

SEQ action potential

A
  1. Resting membrane potential
  2. Depolarizing stimulus
  3. Membrane depolarizes to threshold, Na+ enters the cell, K+ starts to leave the cell SLOWLY
  4. Rapid Na+ entry depolarizes cell
  5. Na+ channels close, K+ channels open
  6. K+ moves from cell to extracellular fluid
  7. K+ channels remain open and K+ continues to leave, hyperpolarizing cell
  8. Voltage-gated K+ channels close, less K+ leaks from cell
  9. Cell returns to resting ion permeability and resting membrane potential
42
Q

Absolute refractory period

A

When the action potential is peaking, zero cell excitability (because cell is being excited already)

43
Q

Two factors that influence AP speed

A
  1. Diameter of axon (larger= faster)
  2. Ion leakage (less leaks= faster)
44
Q

Why do myelinated axons have faster action potentials?

A

Only nodes have Na+ channels, action potential jumps from node to node and covers more ground in less time

45
Q

Demyelinated axons

A

Slows conduction of AP by current leaking out of axon where myelination was previously, causes degenerative diseases (ex. MS)

46
Q

Saltatory conduction

A

Jumping of AP from node to node in myelinated axons

47
Q

Hyperkalemia

A

Increased blood K+ concentration, brings membrane closer to threshold (more positive) and stimulus that were previously subthreshold will trigger action potentials

48
Q

Hypokalemia

A

Decreased blood K+ concentration, hyperpolarizes membrane (more negative) and decreases likelihood of firing action potential

49
Q

Synapses

A

Pass electrical signals between neurons by neurotransmitters

50
Q

What ion is responsible for the release of neurotransmitters?

A

Ca2+

51
Q

Seven classes of neurocrines

A
  1. Acetylcholine
  2. Amines
  3. Amino acids
  4. Purines
  5. Gases
  6. Peptides
  7. Lipids
52
Q

Acetylcholine (Ach)

A

Synthesized from choline and acetyl coA

53
Q

Cholinergic neurons

A

Release and bind Ach

54
Q

Amine neurotransmitters

A

Dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine (all derived from Tyrosine), others include serotonin (Tryptophan), Histamine (Histidine)

55
Q

Amino acid neurotransmitters

A

Glutamate (excitatory), Aspartate (excitatory), GABA (inhibitory), Glycline (inhibitory or excitatory)

56
Q

Cholinergic receptors

A

Nicotinic, muscarinic

57
Q

Nicotinic receptors

A

Found on skeletal muscle in CNS and PNS, channels for Na+ and K+

58
Q

Muscarinic receptors

A

CNS and PNS, linked to G proteins, tissue response varies with receptor subtype

59
Q

Adrenergic receptors

A

Two classes (alpha, beta), linked to G proteins

60
Q

Slow neurocrine response

A

G-coupled protein pathway, uses messengers

61
Q

Fast neurocrine response

A

Gated ion channel pathway, direct effect

62
Q

Fate of neurotransmitters

A

Returned to axon terminals, transported into glial cells, inactivated by enzymes, diffuse out of synaptic cleft (into bloodstream)

63
Q

Divergent integration pathway

A

One neuron passes a signal to multiple targets

64
Q

Convergent integration pathway

A

Multiple neurons pass a signal to one target

65
Q

Inhibitory post-synaptic potential

A

Neurotransmitter release results in a hyperpolarization (more negative) of the post-synaptic membrane

66
Q

Excitatory post-synaptic potential

A

Neurotransmitter release results in a depolarization (more positive) of the post-synaptic membrane

67
Q

Summation of EPSPs and IPSPs

A

Net sum of all signals reaches the trigger zone and can either trigger an action potential or not