Signal Transmission, communication, and membrane potench Flashcards
What is the pathway of communication of neurons
dendrites pick up a signal and carry it to the cell body where a new signal is sent down the axon to a different location
Electrical impulses do what
propogate signals
Chemical impulses do what
transmit signals
What is key to the integration of the nervous system
synaptic transmission
At rest, cell membranes are
polarized
Stimulus to a neuron causes what to happen
Na+ gates in the dendrites and soma to open causing Na to flow into the neuron causing depolarization
What is the soma
the body of the neuron
Once threshold is reached, sodium ion gates open up where
in the axon causing more depolarization
What is the threshold potential
-60mV
After depolarization occurs what happens
K+ gates open up and bring the neuron back to resting membrane potential
What are the two types of synapses
electrical and chemical
What does the electrical synapse use as a signal
current carrying ions
What do current carrying ions of the electrical synapses travel through
gap junctions
Where do you find electrical synapses
smooth and cardiac muscle
What do chemical synapses use as a signal
neuroT’s
neuromodulators
neurotrophic factors
What are the structures that chemical synapses have to transmit a signal
pre and postsynaptic membranes and a synaptic cleft between them
What is unique to a chemiical synapse compared to a electrical on e
chemical synapses only permit one way communication
What are the two types of chemical synapses
excititory and inhibitory
What does a neurotransmitter do in a excitatory chemical synapse
they depolarize the post synaptic membrane
What does a neurotransmitter do in a inhibitory synapse
they reduce the post synaptic membranes ability to generate an action potential
Where are neuroT’s synthesized
the cytoplasm of the axon terminal
Where are neuroT’s stored after synthesis
synaptic vesicles in the axon terminal
What is the mechanism behind how a neuroT might cause an excititory postsynaptic potential
if the neuro T causes a postive charge difference over the membrane making the potential to move closer to zero, it is said to be depolarized or (excited)
What is the mech behind how a neuroT might cause an inhibitory postsynaptic potential
if the neuro T causes the net charge of the membrane to go further from zero it is less likely to depolarize therefore it has become hyperpolarized and “more inhibited”
