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College Biology & Ecology > Neurons and Nervous Systems > Flashcards

Neurons and Nervous Systems Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
2
Q

What’s wrong with using hormones to communicate over long distances?

A

Slow signals, limited by receptors and also slow diffusion

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3
Q

Neurons are excitable, what does that mean?

A

It can generate and propagate electrical signals (aka nerve impulses/action potentials)

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4
Q

What are neurons?

A

Specialized cells of the nervous system that receive, encode, and transmit info (RET)

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5
Q

Support cells of neurons

A

Glial cells

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6
Q

What makes up nervous systems?

A

Neurons with their glial cells

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7
Q

Information is received by ______

A

Sensory cells

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8
Q

Another word for conversion into electrical signals

A

Transduced

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9
Q

Information is _____ into ___ that are transmitted and processed by _____.

A

Transduced into electrical signalsNeurons

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10
Q

To cause _____ or ____ responses, a nervous system communicates the electricalSignals to ____

A

Behavioral and physiologicalEffectors

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11
Q

What are effectors?

A

Muscles and glands that receive electrical signals

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12
Q

The simplest neural network consists of how many cells?

A

3

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13
Q

What are the three cells that make up the simplest neural network?

A

Sensory neuron connected to a motor neuron connected to a muscle cell

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14
Q

What connects sensory neurons to a motor neuron?

A

Interneurons

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15
Q

Neurons and synapses are divided into ______ that function in _____

A

Networks that function in parallel

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16
Q

A network of neurons areas also called a

A

Nerve net

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17
Q

Nerve nets (aka _____) provides _______ from sensory cells to effectors

A

Neuron networkDirect lines of communication

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18
Q

Nerve nets provide ____ lines of communication from ____ to ___

A

DirectSensory to effectors

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19
Q

What is a ganglia?

A

A cluster of neurons

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20
Q

When pair of ganglia are larger and more central, they call it the

A

Brain

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21
Q

CNS is

A

The Central Nervous System

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22
Q

The spinal cord and the brain make up the

A

Central nervous system

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23
Q

In vertebrates most of the cells of the nervous system are found in

A

The brain and spinal cord

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24
Q

Describe the generic pathway of information traveling through the nervous system (hint: start with sensory cells)

A

Sensory cells ➡ CNS ➡ effectors

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25
Q

CNS sends signals to effectors via

A

Neurons

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26
Q

The CNS sends signals to effectors via neurons what reside/extend

A

Outside the brain and spinal cord

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27
Q

Neurons and supporting cells found outside the CNS are called the

A

Peripheral nervous system

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28
Q

PNS

A

Peripheral nervous system

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29
Q

Parts of a neuron

A

Dendrites, cell body, axon hillock, axon, axon terminals

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30
Q

Dendrites

A

Projections from the cell body that bring info from other neurons and sensory cells to the cell body

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31
Q

Cell body

A

Contains the nucleus and most of the neuron’s organelles. The “house”

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32
Q

Axon

A

Carries info away from the cell body.Conduct info to target cells, the “road” to the other cell

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33
Q

Axon hillock

A

Integrates info collected by dendrites and initiates action potentials. the “driveway” between the house and the road

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34
Q

Axon terminal

A

Fine nerve endings of an axon positioned very close to the target cell that release neurotransmitters. “the parking spot”

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35
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Chemical messengers

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36
Q

Neurons function differently in all animals

A

False

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37
Q

Variation between different types of neurons exist

A

True

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38
Q

Axon lengths differ

A

True

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39
Q

Synapse

A

A region where nerve impulses are transmitted and receivedEncompasses axon terminalPermits a neuron to pass an electrical/chemical signal-can learn and remember

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40
Q

Neurons transmit signals across the

A

Synapse

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41
Q

Microelectrodes can measure the

A

Membrane potential

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42
Q

Membrane potential

A

The difference in voltage across the plasma membrane of a neuron

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43
Q

The voltage difference of an _____ neuron is called the _______

A

UnstimulatedResting potential

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44
Q

The resting membrane potential is

A

-60 mV

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45
Q

The inside of the call is more positive than the outside

A

False

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46
Q

Electrical charges move across cell membranes as

A

Charged ions

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47
Q

The major ions that carry electric charges across the plasma membranes

A

Sodium (Na+)Chloride (Cl-)Potassium (K+)Calcium (Ca2+)

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48
Q

Extracellular area has a high concentration of what ion?

A

Sodium (Na)

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49
Q

Intracellular area has high concentration of

A

Potassium (K)

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50
Q

What generates a constant concentration gradient of Na and K across the plasma membrane?

A

K/Na - ATPase

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51
Q

What uses Na/K-ATPase to pump the ions against their concentration gradient?

A

Ion pumps

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52
Q

The sodium potassium pump

A

Expels Na from the cell and exchange them for K+ ions from outside

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53
Q

Ion Channels are

A

Pores formed by proteins in the lipid bilayer that selectively allowIons to pass through

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54
Q

Greater concentration of K in the cell is due to

A

The sodium potassium pumps

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55
Q

Open channels allow K+ to

A

Diffuse out the cell

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56
Q

Potassium equilibrium potential

A

Membrane potential at which the tendency of K+ ions diffuse in and out of the cell are equal

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57
Q

Ion channels that open/close under certain conditions are called

A

Gated channels

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58
Q

Voltage-gated channels

A

Open/close in response to a change in voltage across the plasma membrane

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59
Q

Chemically gates channels

A

Open/close depending on the presence/absence o a specific chemical that binds to the channel protein

60
Q

Depolarized membrane is when

A

The inside of a neuron becomes less negative compared to the resting condition

61
Q

Hyperpolarized

A

When the inside of a neuron becomes more negative in comparison to its resting condition

62
Q

Opening and closing of ion channels resulting from voltage changes are the basic mechs by which _____ neurons respond to stimuli

A

Motor

63
Q

Nerve impulses

A

Action potentials that travel along axons

64
Q

Action potential

A

Sudden and major change membrane potential

65
Q

Action potentials happen fast or slow?

A

Very fast

66
Q

During action potentials voltage hanged from

A

-60mV (resting) to +50mV

67
Q

Channels primarily responsible for action potentials

A

Voltage-gates sodium channels

68
Q

At the resting potential most of the sodium channels are _____

A

Closed

69
Q

Threshold potential

A

The specific membrane potential where voltage-gated ion channels open

70
Q

During the transmission of an action potential, sodium channels stay open for

A

less than a millisecond

71
Q

The opening of sodium channels cause the ___ phase or _____ of the action potential

A

rising phase or “spike”

72
Q

________ channels open more slowly than the voltage-gated sodium channels

A

Voltage-gated potassium

73
Q

Voltage-gated potassium channels stay open shorter than sodium ones

A

False

74
Q

The ability for voltage-gated K+ channels to stay open longer allows potassium ions to carry excess ______ out of the axon

A

Positive charges

75
Q

Voltage-gated ______ channels causes the plasma membrane to return to its resting potential

A

potassium

76
Q

Voltage-gated sodium channels can be triggered again after how long?

A

Only 1-2 milliseconds

77
Q

Refractory period

A

the time when a plasma membrane cannot propagate an action potential

78
Q

Action potentials can lose signal if traveling long distances

A

False

79
Q

The all-or-nothing speculation of action potentials

A

It is an “all-or-nothing” because of the quick interaction between the VG sodium channels and the membrane potential

80
Q

Action potentials can be reversed

A

Self-regenerating

81
Q

Why can action potentials not be reversed?

A

the part of the membrane that it came from is in its refractory period

82
Q

Action potentials travel faster in ______ axons

A

large-diameter

83
Q

Squids have neurons with ____ axons

A

GIANT

84
Q

The axons of the squid control the

A

water jet propulsion system

85
Q

What did the scientists Hodgkin and Huxley use to study electrical properties of axonal membranes to discover action potentials?

A

Giant axons from squids

86
Q

Patch clumping is

A

a research method that allows single ion channels to be studied

87
Q

Describe the process of “patch clamping”

A

A recording pipette is used to clamp a patch of neuron plasma membrane and measure the voltage differences when ion channels open and close

88
Q

In vertebrates it is impractical to _____ propagation velocity by ______axon size because of the ____ numbers of axons present

A

increase propagation, increasing axon size, very large

89
Q

Axons in the CNS are myelinated by

A

oligodendrocytes

90
Q

Myelin does what?

A

electrically insulates the axon

91
Q

Ion channels are clustered at the

A

nodes of Ranvier

92
Q

Saltatory conduction

A

when an action potential fires at one node of Ranvier and jumps to the next one

93
Q

Saltatory conduction is ____ than continuous signal propagation

A

much faster

94
Q

Signals travel _____ down myelinated (insulated) axons because

A

faster; it travels faster through the cytoplasm compared to ion channels opening and closing

95
Q

Glial cells

A

physically support and orient neruons and provide insulation for axons

96
Q

Schwann cells

A

a type of glial cell that wraps around the axons

97
Q

Schwann insulate axons of neurons in the _________

A

PNS (peripheral nervous system)

98
Q

Oligodentrocytes have a similar function to _____ except they do it in the _____

A

Schwann cells; CNS

99
Q

Myelin

A

Substance of myelination (insulation) and is the covering produced by Schann cells/oligodendrocytes

100
Q

Glial cells do what for neurons?

A

supply them with nutrients.

101
Q

Gligl cells can communicate electrically through _____

A

Gap junctions

102
Q

What glial cells contribute to the “blood-brain barrier”

A

Astrocytes

103
Q

Blood-brain barrier

A

protects the brain from toxic chemicals in the blood

104
Q

______ surround the smallest blood vessels in the brain

A

Astrocytes

105
Q

Astrocyte properties

A

permeable to fat-soluble molecules (like alcohol)

106
Q

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

A

myelin is destroyed and affects a huge range of nervous system functions (ex: changes of sensation in body parts, cognitive impairments, unstable balance)

107
Q

Demyelination

A

gradual destruction of myelin

108
Q

MS is though to be an _____ that affects the

A

autoimmune disease; CNS

109
Q

Remyelination is not possible for the body

A

False (however, there can be irreversible nerve damage)

110
Q

Relapsing-Remitting MS occurs ____ of cases

A

85%

111
Q

the exact cause of MS is unkown

A

True

112
Q

MS is more common in woman than men suggesting that ________ may play a significant role

A

hormones

113
Q

MS can also appear in what form?

A

outbreaks or “clusters”

114
Q

The risk for MS increases with greater distance from the _______

A

Equator

115
Q

Neuromuscular Junction

A

the chemical synapse between a motorn turn and a muscle cell

116
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

Vesicles filled with chemical messenger molecules from synapses

117
Q

Acetylcholine

A

neurotransmitter used by all vertebrate motor neurons

118
Q

Acetylcholine is released when vesicles fuse with the _______

A

presynaptic membrane

119
Q

Synaptic cleft

A

the narrow space where acetylcholine enters after fusing with the presynaptic membrane

120
Q

The _______ membrane of a neuromuscular junction has ______ channels that allow ____ to pass through

A

postsynaptic ; acetylcholine-gated ; Na+

121
Q

the “motor end plate” is

A

the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction

122
Q

The contraction of the muscle cell is due to

A

the depolarization of the motor end plate (postsynaptic membrane) when Na+ diffuses

123
Q

How many ACH vesicles that each contain how many ACH molecules is needed to fire a muscle cell action potential?

A

100 vesicles, each with 10K molecules

124
Q

Excitatory synpases

A

a postsynaptic neuron that response to chemical stiumlation by depolarizing

125
Q

Inhibitory synpases

A

a postsynaptic neuron that hyperpolarizes

126
Q

Common inhibitory neurotransmitters in vertebrates

A

GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) and glycine

127
Q

GABA and glycine recptors are

A

Gated chloride channels

128
Q

Gated chloride channels can be both voltage and chemical gated

A

True

129
Q

when chloride channels are activated, they can _____ the PS membrane and make the cell ____ likely to fire an action potential

A

hyperpolarize ; less likely

130
Q

Describe the very general process that leads to an excitatory synapse (hint: 3 topics)

A

ACH-receptor –> Na —> depolarization

131
Q

Describe the very general process that leads to an inhibitory synapse (hint: 3 topics)

A

GABA-receptor –> Cl- –> hyperpolarization

132
Q

Bascially excitatory is

A

depolarization w/ Na w/ ACH

133
Q

Bascially inhibitory is

A

hyperpolarization w/ Cl w/ GABA

134
Q

Where the neuron “decides” to fire an action potential

A

Axon hillock

135
Q

Is the axon hillock myelinated or nor

A

NOT

136
Q

The axon hillock has few volatge channels

A

FALSE

137
Q

inputs from the synapses are conducted through the ___

A

Cell body

138
Q

If the axon hillock is ______ to the ______ level, the axon fires an action potential

A

depolarizes the axon hillock to the threshold

139
Q

Synapses _____ to the cell body have a _____ influence on the axon hillock

A

closer have greater influence

140
Q

Closer synapses to the cell body have greater influence because potentials ______ as the spread from the synapse

A

decrease

141
Q

potentials stay the at the same level no matter how far they go

A

False, they decrease

142
Q

Excitatory and inhibitory are “summed”

A

spatially and temporally

143
Q

Spacial summation

A

adds up the simultaneous influences of synapses (on different sites on the PS cell)

144
Q

Temporal summation

A

adds up the PS potentials generated at the same site in a rapid sequence

145
Q

Always relate depolarization to _____

A

Firing action potentials

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