the structure and function of neurons Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

what do neurons generally do?

A

receive information and transmit it to other cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

how many neurons are thought to be in the CNS?

A

-100 billion in the brain
-1 billion in the spinal chord

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what are the 3 types of neurons?

A

-sensory
-relay
-motor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what do sensory neurons do?

A

tell the rest of the brain about the external and internal environment by processing info taken from one of 5 senses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what do relay neurons do?

A

carry messages from one part of the CNS to another
they connect sensory and motor neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what do motor neurons do?

A

carry signals from the CNS which help organs, glands and muscle functions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what are the main components of a neuron?

A

-nucleus
-dendrites
-cell body
-axon
-myelin sheaths
-nodes of ranvier
-terminal buttons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what neurons are multipolar and what ones are unipolar? what does this mean?

A

multipolar = sends and receives messages, motor and relay
unipolar = only sends messages, sensory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is synaptic transmission?

A

the process by which electrical nerve impulses are transmitted chemically by neurotransmitters across the synapse between one neuron and another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what are neurotransmitters?

A

chemical messengers transmitted in cerebral fluid that convey information between neurons and from neurons to muscles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

describe the process of synaptic transmission

A

the electrical nerve impulse travels down the neuron, prompting the release of neurotransmitters at the pre-synaptic terminal
these chemicals are released into the synaptic fluid in the synapse
the adjacent neuron must quickly take up the neurotransmitters from the fluid and convert them to an electrical impulse to travel down the neuron to the next pre-synaptic terminal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

research on neurons

A

-Yamamoto & Kitazawa 2001 - why cant be easily perceive when we’re touched in two places simultaneously? argued to be because of the inability of the nervous system to transmit that info accurately as the distance from the brain for the neurons receiving the message is different (eg shoulder v foot)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what does action potential mean?

A

only certain neurotransmitters can ‘unlock’ a message channel in certain receptors, like a lock and key system
when the right key (neurotransmitter) meets the right lock (receptor) a specific ion channel in the membrane is opened. ions flow through the membrane into the neuron
the flooding of ions can cause a ‘potential’ which can either be excitatory or inhibitory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what are excitatory potentials?

A

make it more likely for the neuron to fire

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what are inhibitory potentials?

A

make it less likely for the neuron to fire, so if the message is likely to stop at the post-synaptic neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what analogy is used for excitatory and inhibitory potentials?

A

car pedals, excitatory - accelerator, inhibitory - the brake