Neuronal structure and function

Question 1

what are the properties of a neurone?

Answer 1

cell membrane
nucleus - contains DNA and genetic blueprint

Question 2

what are cellular specialisations?

Answer 2

• excitability of the membrane
• dendrites
• synapses
• axon hillock
• axon
• myelination

Question 3

what are the potentials of the membrane?

Answer 3

the neurone membrane has a differential permeability to ions therefore there is a distribution of change across the membrane
the resting membrane potential is -70mV
the main ions contributing to the membrane potential are sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-)

Question 4

what is the excitable membrane?

Answer 4

incoming signals changes the membrane potential of the dendrites by altering its permeability
increasing sodium (Na+) causes the membrane potential to become more positive and less negative = depolarisation
increasing chloride (Cl-) causes the membrane to become more negative and less positive = hyperpolarisation

Question 5

what is depolarisation?

Answer 5

the membrane potential becoming more positive and less negative

Question 6

what is hyperpolarisation?

Answer 6

the membrane potential becoming more negative and less positive

Question 7

what is a spatial summation?

Answer 7

spatial summation refers to the summing of inputs that arrive at different locations on a neuron’s dendrites
- the membrane potential is dependent on the sum of all the EPSPs (excitatory post-synaptic potential) and IPSPs (inhibitory post-synaptic potential) nearby, therefore spatial summation occurs to add these together

Question 8

what is temporal summation?

Answer 8

temporal summation refer to the summing of inputs that arrive at different times

Question 9

describe receptor pharmacology

Answer 9

neurotransmitter - binds to receptor and evokes excitation or inhibition
agonist - binds to receptor and evokes the same response at the native transmitter
antagonist - binds to receptor and does not evoke any response, it prevent the native transmitter/agonist from binding to the receptor

Question 10

if someone experiences an inability to perform motor patterns, this is mostly causes by what?

Answer 10

damage to the cerebellum

Question 11

what is the best example of signal integration?

Answer 11

spatial summation