Neurophysiology and NMJ Flashcards
Neuron
What is the input zone?
dendrites and cell body
part where incoming signals from other neurons are received
Neuron
What is the trigger zone
axon hillock
part where APs are initiated
Neuron
What is the conducting zone?
axon (1 mm to > 1 m long)
part that conducts APs in undiminishing fashion, often over long distances
Neuron
What is the output zone?
axon terminals
part that releases neurotransmitter that influences other cells
What cell types use electrical activity to perform their physiological roles?
neurons
cardiac myocytes
skeletal muscle cells
some secretory cells (ie. pancreatic 𝜷-cells)
What are excitable cells?
electrically active cells
How do excitable cells perform their physiological role?
harness difference in electrical charge between inside and outside of their cell membrane to function
Describe the different in charge between the inside and outside of excitable cells.
more negatively charged on inside than outside (0 mV outside)
electrical potential difference located immediately adjacent to cell membrane
What are the 2 initial conditions required for electrical activity?
- selectively permeable cell membrane
- differential distribution across membrane of electrically charged ions in solution (Na+ and K+)
What is diffusion?
movement of solute (ie. ion) from area of high concentration to lower concentration by random thermal movement (no added energy needed)
How do ions (charged particles) diffuse through the membrane?
FACILITATED DIFFUSION
require path through the bilayer
ion channels in membrane provide path for Na+ and K+, etc.
Why can’t ions (charged particles) diffuse directly through the membrane?
not lipid soluble
What type of process is facilitated diffusion?
passive
Describe facilitated diffusion by means of conformation change.
- molecule to be transported binds to carrier (on binding sites exposed to ECF)
- carrier changes its conformation
- binding sites are now exposed to ICF, and transported molecule detaches from carrier
What is electrical activity in excitable cells important for?
neurons
cardiac and skeletal muscle
What is the distribution of K+ and Na+ inside and outside of the membrane?
K+ inside: 150 mM
K+ outside: 5 mM
Na+ inside: 15 mM
Na+ outside: 150 mM
How do cells concentrate K+ inside, and Na+ outside the cell membrane?
Na+ - K+ ATPase
- pumps 3 Na+ out
- pumps 2 K+ in
(uses ATP –> ADP)
What is the resting membrane potential (RMP)?
-70 mV
What is E_K+ and how is it established?
-90 mV
established by relatively large net diffusion of K+ outward
What is E_Na+ and how is it established?
+60 mV
relatively small net diffusion of Na+ inward neutralizes some of the potential created by K+ alone
Do large intracellular anionic proteins diffuse across the membrane?
no
What is permeability (or conductance)?
ease with which an ion can travel across membrane
How does permeability (P) include membrane voltage (Vm)?
greater P = greater Vm
What is the relative permeability of K+ : Na+ in most cells? Why?
~ 50 : 1
greater # of open K+ channels at rest (K+ leak channels)
What is depolarization?
Vm becomes more positive
What happens if you increase permeability of the membrane to Na+?
membrane potential shifts toward ENa (+60 mV) = depolarization
How can you depolarize the membrane? (3)
- increase membrane permeability to Na+
- decrease membrane permeability to K+
- (theoretically) changing chemical gradient of Na+ or K+
What is hyperpolarization?
Vm becomes more negative
What happens if you increase permeability of the membrane to K+?
membrane potential shifts toward EK (-90 mV) = hyperpolarization
How can you hyperpolarize the membrane? (3)
- decrease membrane permeability to Na+
- increase membrane permeability to K+
- (theoretically) changing chemical gradient of Na+ or K+
What determines membrane potential (Vm)? (2)
- relative permeabilities of ions
- electrochemical gradient
What is an action potential?
large, all-or-nothing electrical event triggered when membrane potential reaches threshold
What occurs during an action potential?
- rapid membrane depolarization (due to increased Na+ permeability)
- rapid return toward resting membrane potential (due to increased K+ permeability)
Why is AP a regenerative event?
AP in one part of membrane will initiate AP in a more distant part of cell
What occurs at an AP subthreshold?
stimuli will not elicit AP → elicits graded potentials
What occurs at an AP suprathreshold?
stimuli will elicit AP of the same size, regardless of the magnitude of the stimulus
Components of Axonal AP
What is the initial depolarization?
How does it occur?
initial depolarization to AP threshold (not part of AP)
occurs in many ways, including EPSP, generator potential, and in lab by external stimulation
Components of Axonal AP
What occurs at the peak of AP?
Why?
Vm approaches ENa
far greater Na+ conductance (gNa) from open Na+ channels than K+ conductance (gK) resulting from open K+ channels
Components of Axonal AP
What occurs after hyperpolarization (AHP)?
Why?
Vm is closer to EK than at rest
K+ channels are open, and gK is greater than at rest
Where are generator potentials (GP) produced?
at sensory endings in periphery
Does a larger stimulus result in larger depolarization?
yes
GP is graded in amplitude - proportional to strength of the stimulus
When are APs produced?
if GP reaches threshold
What is the m-gate?
activation gate for Na+ channel
What is the h-gate?
inactivation gate for Na+ channel
What is the n-gate?
activation gate for K+ channel
Does K+ have an inactivation gate?
no
When do voltage-gated channels move their activation gate?
they have voltage sensor that moves in response to changes in membrane voltage
this movement is coupled to activation gate
How does depolarization influence the probability that the activation gate or inactivation gate is open?
- increases probability that ACTIVATION gate is open
- decreases probability that INACTIVATION gate is open
What happens if either gate (activation or inactivation) is closed?
VG channel will not conduct
In what state are most VG channels in at rest?
available state
- activation gate closed
- inactivation gate open
- channels are non-conducting, but ready to be activated by depolarization
What does a greater depolarization result in?
greater probability of getting all ions
Describe the positive feedback loop initiated by AP threshold.
- initial depolarization (ie. GP) opens some available VG Na+ channels in membrane
- Na+ influx (conductance) results in further membrane depolarization
- more depolarized membrane = increases probability that activation gate of available (but presently non-conducting) VG Na+ channels will open
loop repeats rapidly, opening all available VG Na+ channels
What are the 4 different phases of AP?
- resting state
- rising phase
- falling phase
- afterhyperpolarization (AHP)
Describe channel gating during resting state.
Na+ activation gate: closed (high prob.)
Na+ inactivation gate: closed (high prob.)
K+ activation gate: open (likely)
Describe channel gating during rising phase.
Na+ activation gate: open
Na+ inactivation gate: open
- recovery from inactivation
- channel is now in available state again
- takes time
K+ activation gate: closed (likely)
- results in membrane returning to resting voltage
What happens when K+ activation gate closes?
results in membrane returning to resting voltage
What happens when Na+ inactivation gate opens?
- recovery from inactivation
- channel is now in available state again
- takes time
Describe channel gating during falling phase.
Na+ activation gate: remains open
Na+ inactivation gate: closed
K+ activation gate: open
Describe channel gating during afterhyperpolarization (AHP).
Na+ activation gate: closed
Na+ inactivation gate: remains closed
K+ activation gate: remains open
Describe the rising and falling phases in the change in conductance of Na+ ions (gNa).
- rising phase: Na+ channel opening
- falling phase: Na+ channels inactivating
Describe the rising and falling phases in the change in conductance of K+ ions (gK).
- rising phase: K+ channel opening
- falling phase: K+ channels closing
What happens to gNa and gK during AHP?
- gNa has returned to resting value
- gK is still elevated over resting values because K+ channels are still open
What is gNa and gK at rest?
not 0, but gK is significantly greater than gNa due to leak channels
What is the absolute refractory period?
period of time during which a second AP absolutely cannot be initiated, no matter how large the stimulus is
What is the relative refractory period?
interval immediately following the absolute refractory period during which initiation of a second AP is inhibited, but not impossible
(requires a greater stimulus intensity than the previous stimulus to generate AP)