Peter's physiology 1 - neurones, nerve conduction and synaptic transmission Flashcards
What is the part of the neurone which receives inputs from other neurones and conveys graded electrical signals passively to the soma?
Dendrites
What is another name for the soma/ cell body of a neurone?
Perikaryon
Part of the neurone which is the synthetic and metabolic centre?
Soma
What’s another name for the rough endoplasmic reticulum of a neurone?
Nissl substance
Name of the part of the neurone connecting the soma and initial segment of the soma?
Axon hillock
What is the site of initiation of the “all or none” action potential in the neurone?
Axon hillock and initial segment
What part of the neurone conducts output signals as action potentials to other neurones (or other cells)?
Axon
Describe the direction when the axon mediated transport of materials between the soma and presynaptic terminal?
Vice versa?
Anterograde direction
Retrograde direction
What is the name for the point of chemical (usually) communication between neurones (or other cells)?
Synapse
What type of infection exploits retrograde transport to infect neurones?
Viruses
Difference between apical and basal dendrites?
Apical dendrites extend upwards whilst basal dendrites extend downwards
What makes the axon the most excitable part of the cell?
Highest number of voltage activated Na channels
What is a neurite?
Any projection from the cell body of a neurone
Word to describe a neurone with one neurite?
Unipolar
Word to describe a neurone with one neurite that bifurcates?
Pseudounipolar
Word to describe a neurone that has 2 neurites?
Bipolar
Word to describe a neurone that has 3 or more neurites?
Multipolar
Example of a unipolar neurone?
Peripheral autonomic neurone
Example of a pseudounipolar neurone?
Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurone
Example of a bipolar neurone?
Retinal bipolar neurone
Example of a multipolar neurone?
Lower motor neurone (motoneurone)
What are the 4 functional regions which most neurones have?
Input
Integrative
Conductile
Output
Describe golgi type I neurones?
Projection neurones with long axons which connect CNS to periphery e.g. from dorsal horn of spinal cord to brain structures
Describe golgi type II neurones?
Local interneurones with short axons e.g. between neurones in CNS
Approximate resting membrane potential of most neurones?
-70 mV
What is the name given to the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle or nerve cell?
Action potential
What is the name of the point of depolarisation at which the neurone fires, transmitting information to the other neurone?
Threshold potential
What is the usual threshold potential of a neurone?
-60mV
What ion channel is responsible for the upstroke part of the action potential of a neurone?
Voltage-activated Na+ channel
What ion channel is responsible for the downstroke part of the action potential of a neurone?
Voltage-activated K+ channel
What is the name for the brief period when polarity of a neurone is reversed to inside positive?
Overshoot
What is the name for the brief period when the neurone polarity hyper polarises beyond resting potential during the action potential of a neurone?
Undershoot
Why does undershoot occur?
Voltage activated K+ channels do not close instantly once resting membrane potential is achieved
How does the amplitude of an action potential vary as it passes along the membrane?
It stays constant
Why do passive signals not spread far from their site of origin within a neurone?
The nerve cell membrane is leaky = current loss occurs across the membrane
What is generated from current leak back to extracellular space across the membrane resistance of a neurone?
A potential change (delta Vm)