Neurons & Synapses Flashcards
The human nervous system is made up of:
The peripheral nervous system; the central nervous system
Smell, vision & eye movement are influenced by ____ nerve cells:
Cranial
_____ nerves are connected directly to the brain:
Cranial
_____ nerves are connected through the spinal cord:
Spinal
How many pairs of spinal nerves can be found throughout the spinal cord?
31
At the cross-section of the spinal cord, ____ occurs through the dorsal side & ____ occurs through the ventral side:
Input; output
The forebrain is composed of which two parts?
Telencephalon; diencephalon
How many layers make up the neocortex?
6
Which layer of the neocortex is made up of several densely packed stellate cells?
4th
Which layer of the neocortex is made up mostly of axons and dendrites?
1st
Neurons are made up of which 4 components, as discussed in Lecture 1?
Cell bodies, dendrites, axons, synapses
The ____ of a neuron is negatively charged (-70mV), compared to the ____:
Inside; outside
The ion concentration inside a neuron includes which two types (both beginning with p)?
Potassium; proteins
The ion concentration outside of a neuron includes which two types?
Sodium; chloride
The _____ gradient suggests that the concentration of sodium will try to equalise across the inside & the outside of the cell membrane:
Concentration gradient
_____ potential occurs when the pulse within dendrites vary in size:
Graded
____ potential depends on whether it reaches a threshold level of intensity:
Action
EPSP stands for:
Excitatory post-synaptic potential
The flow of sodium ions into the cell causes what event to occur?
EPSP
The “positive feedback” cycle is also know as the:
Hodgkin-Huxley cycle
Depolarisation travels down which part of the neuron?
Dendrites
If depolarisation is large enough, ____ potential is triggered:
Action
Depolarisation is a slow, time-consuming task. True or false?
False
The demyelination of cells can cause severe health problems, such as multiple sclerosis. True or false?
True
Nodes of Ranvier ____ potential:
Reactivate
The nervous system is composed of which cells?
Neurons; glial
Neurons vary in ___, ____ and ______:
Form; location; interconnectivity
____ cells provide structural support & electrical insulation:
Glial
What are the 3 main types of glial cells?
Astrocytes; microglial cells; oligodendrocytes
____ make contact with blood vessels & transport ions across the vascular wall:
Astrocytes
The blood brain barrier (BBB) is made up of what type of glial cells?
Astrocytes
The BBB allows all types of molecules to pass through. True or false?
False
The ____ plays an important role in protecting the CNS from chemical compounds & pathogens:
BBB
Research has indicated that ____ can respond to & release neurotransmitters:
Astrocytes
Neuronal activity is moderated by astrocyte activity. True or false?
True
What type of glial cell forms the substance myelin in the central nervous system?
Oligodendrocytes
What type of glial cells forms the substance myelin in the peripheral nervous system?
Schwann cells
Myelin ____ the speed and distance at which information can travel:
Increases
_____ cells remove damaged cells:
Microglial
The cell membrane that encases the cell body is called the:
Soma
Neurons and other cells are surrounded by what?
Extracellular fluid
____ are branches that receive inputs from other neurons:
Dendrites
The form of a ____ depends on the type & location of a _____:
Dendrite; neuron
Which part of a neuron receives input signals from other neurons (via dendrites)?
Spines
Which part of a neuron outputs signals?
Axons
Transmission of information occurs at which part of the neuron?
The synapse
Which part of a neuron can transmit signals to more than one cell?
Axon collaterals
Axons are covered in:
Myelin
The gaps in myelin are referred to as:
Nodes of Ranvier
Which two components of a neuron assist in accelerating the transmission of information between each other?
Myelin; Nodes of Ranvier
The disparity in electrical charge on the inside and outside of the cell membrane is called:
Membrane potential
At how many millivolts (mV) does the resting membrane potential usually sit?
-70mV
The inside of the cell is more negatively charged than the outside. True or false?
true
The process of an electrical charge becoming less negative and more positive is called:
Depolarisation
When an ion channel opens and has positive ions flowing through, what event is occurring?
Depolarisation
A temporary change or reversal in the membrane potential is called a(n):
Action potential
The point at which a stimulus with sufficient electrical value activates an action potential is called the:
Threshold
What is the name of the mathematical model that can be used to demonstrate how the change in potential causes sodium ion channels to open?
The Hodgkin-Huxley cycle
