Synaptic Communication Q2

Question 1

What is the resting membrane potential?

Answer 1

The potential energy in the electrical gradient formed across the plasma membrane.

Question 2

What is the nernst and goldman equations used for?

Answer 2

Nernst is to tell you what the potential would be if it were permeable to everything. Goldman calculates resting potential.

Question 3

Sodium potassion pump moves the ions in which direction?

Answer 3

3 sodium out and 2 potassium in.

Question 4

Out line the proccess of an action potential being propagated.

Answer 4

At rest sodium is outside the cell and potassium can slowly leak out. Neurotransmitters act as stimulus causing the sodium channels to open, allowing sodium to rush in and create a positive membrane potential. Voltage gated potassium channels open forcing potassium out to try to restore the negative membrane potential at the same time the sodium channels are closing. Then during the refractory period in which the membrane potential is below resting the voltage gated sodium channels cannot open and will not be able have an action potential at this time. Potassium slowly leaks out to restore resting membrane.

Question 5

Where are action potentials initiated?

Answer 5

Axon hillock.

Question 6

Define Anterogade.

Answer 6

Moving of an action potential away from cell body.

Question 7

What are some of the common neurotransmitters?

Answer 7

Glutamate, GABA, acetylcholine.

Question 8

What are the three distinct pools of synaptic vesicles?

Answer 8

Readily releasable pool, recycling pool, reverse pool.

Question 9

How are the vesicles able to release neurotransmitters?

Answer 9

SNARE complex forms as synaptotagim will physically pull the two membranes together. Then the syntaxin will act like Velcro to hold together.

Question 10

What is the accepted model of membrane reuptake?

Answer 10

Ultrafast synaptic vesicle cycle. Ultrafast endocytosis allows vesicle to pull off and the wait time is in formation of neurotransmitter.

Question 11

What is the term spinal reflexes referring to?

Answer 11

Sensory and motor loops that function independent of descending brain control.

Question 12

What does the hebbian theory state?

Answer 12

That the activity drives neural network consolidation, while inactivity leads to decay. IE use it or loose it.

Question 13

How does neuronal plasticity take place?

Answer 13

Increase or decrease vesicle release, increase or decrease receptors, changes to sensitivity, new synapses, new connections.

Question 14

Explain the steps first, second and third order neurons take.

Answer 14

First from mechanosensory yo medulla. Second from medulla to thalamus. Third from thalamus to somatosensory cortex.

Question 15

Which neurons decussate at the medulla level?

Answer 15

Second order neurons. Or mechanisensory

Question 16

Which type of neurons have free nerve endings?

Answer 16

Nociceptors and thermoceptors.

Question 17

What encapsulates somatosensory neurons?

Answer 17

Mechanoreceptor cells.

Question 18

What are the 4 types of mechanosensory cells?

Answer 18

Merkels cells, Meissner corpuscle, ruffini endings, and pacinian corpuscle

Question 19

What do the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs block from signaling pain?

Answer 19

Cox 1 and 2 activity by stoping arachidonic acid.

Question 20

Where do first order neurons synapse?

Answer 20

The spinal cord.

Question 21

Where can pain be gated?

Answer 21

Spinal cord because this is where it decussates

Question 22

How do opiates block pain?

Answer 22

They interact with the central pain receptors to block transmission of nociceptive stimuli to somatosensory cortex. This is done by acting in a similar way that enkephalin is able to block pain.

Question 23

What are nociceptors?

Answer 23

Neurons with free nerve endings containing receptors that perceive a specific pain stimulus.