Neurons, synaptic transmission and neurotransmitters Flashcards
1
Q
Neuron
A
- Neuron are nerve cells that process and transmit messages through electrical and chemical signals
2
Q
Neurotransmitters
A
- Relay signals from one neuron to another across the synapse
3
Q
Sensory neuron
A
- Carries sensory information from the body to the brain to be interpreted
4
Q
Relay neuron
A
- Connects to the motor and sensory neuron, relay messages and only exists in the CNS and can be responsible for reflexes
5
Q
Motor neuron
A
- Carries signals from the brain that makes muscles in the body move
6
Q
How do neuron communicate
A
- Neurons communicate by an electrochemical process
- The electrical portion is something called action potential which travels down the axon and this leads to chemical signals being released from the vesicles
7
Q
Crossbow Analogy (neurotransmission)
A
- A neuron at its resting state is negatively charged -70mV
- Once a neuron goes from -70mV to -55mV it has reached threshold to fire an electrical signal
- However, these changes depend on the total or excitatory and inhibitory signals the neurons receive
- At which point it will send an electrical signal down its axon to the terminal buttons where the neurons’ own neurotransmitters will be sent to its neighbours
8
Q
Excitatory signals
A
- Excitatory the neuron’s charge becomes more positive (promote firing)
9
Q
Inhibitory signals
A
- Inhibitory signals make the neuron’s charge become more negative (supress firing)
10
Q
Cell body
A
- Contains nucleus which contains genetic materials
- Mitochondria which provides energy
11
Q
Dendrites
A
- Attached to cell body
- Receives messages from other neurons and triggers an action potential within the cell
12
Q
Axon
A
- Passes electrical impulse towards the axon terminal
- Outside the axon there are fatty deposits which is known as the myelin sheath which insulates the neuron to speed up rate of transmission
13
Q
Axon Terminal
A
- Pass nerve impulse from cell body to the pairs of the body they can’t control
