Theme 2 Flashcards
Properties of Nerve cells
Name the different cellular compartments in a neurone
Dendrites: Receive and process information and bring it to the soma.
Axon: Conducts signals to other neurones via synapses at the axon terminal.
Soma: Cell body
Define the following terms: 1. Ganglion 2. Nerve 3. Nerve tract/pathway
- Ganglion: group of neurone cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
- Nerve: bundle of axons in the PNS.
- Nerve tract or pathway: bundle of axons in the CNS.
What is a multipolar neurone? - examples?
Neurones that have multiple dendrites emanating from it’s cell body allowing it to receive impulses from multiple neurones Motorneurones & interneurones
What is the function of an interneurone?
Communicates between afferent and efferent neurones in the CNS
How is a bipolar sensory neurone different to most neurones?
Has two axons, with a cell body in the middle. One axon attaches to the sensory organ, the other communicates with the CNS.
How does myelination of nerve cells differ in the PNS and CNS?
CNS: Oligodendrocytes –> provide myelin to several axons PNS: Schwann cells –> provide myelin only to one axon
What proportion of nerve cells are stained by the ‘Golgi Silver Impregnation method’?
1%
What are glial cells?
nerve cells that do not carry nerve impulses
Where does an axon emerge from a cell body?
Axon Hillock
When observed under a microscope, how can you tell the difference between an axon and a dendrite?
Dendrites:
- Spines covering
- Taper the further they travel from the cell body
Axon: axon will not taper and features no spines.
Why are spines useful for dendrites?
Spines increases the SA on dendrites to send somatic information
Why is the diameter of an axon constant?
Conduction velocity of impulses of axons depend on the diameter
What are the different Types of connections between axon terminals and postsynaptic cells?
- AXOSOMATIC
- AXOAXONIC
- AXODENDRITIC
What are the three axonal transport mechanisms?
- Fast anterograde
- Slow anterograde
- Fast retrograde
Define the terms Anterograde & Retrograde
Anterograde: Cell body to terminal
Retrograde: terminal to cell body
What type of axonal transport is likely to be used for the transport of organelles or neurotransmitters towards the synaptic terminal?
Fast anterograde
Which protein is involved in this type of transport along the microtubule?
Kinesin
What type of axonal transport is likely to be used to transport surplus membrane particles and metabolites to the cell body?
Fast anterograde
How does Slow anterograde axonal transport work?
Moves soluble substances along the axon at two different rates
How are electrical signals generated?
All electrical signals are generated by an influx of ions – a change in potential between the two sides of the membrance
What is the Nernst equation used to calculate?
Electrical potential across a membrane, when that membrane is permeable to only one ion. Reflects the electrochemical gradient acting on a given ion
How does the Goldman equation expand on the Nernst equation?
takes into account different ion species to work out an overall membrane potential
In terms of relative proportion, which ion leak channels are the most frequent in the membrane of a neurone? Na+, K+, or Cl-
K+
What type of signal propagation do nerve cells use? How does this allow conduction?
Active propagation
Non-decrements: The signal (action potential) does not change with distance
What are the advantageous properties of electrical responses?
Graded bigger stimulus = bigger response
Summation multiple stimuli = summed response (2 stimuli in short sequence, will add up)
What gates do Na ions have?
internal (h) (inactivation) and external (m) (activation)
What gates do K ions have?
n
What are the two type of synapses?
Electrical: no chemical transduction involved (bidirectional) Chemical (unidirectional)
What type of synapse is found in Cardiac cells?
Electrical synapses
What is a gap junction? What protein forms the structure of a gap junction?
Protein pores that bridge the gap between two cells Connexin
What is the advantage of electrical synapses?
NO synaptic delay
What are the two types of neurotransmitter receptors?
Ionotrophic: directly linked to an ion channel which opens when neurotransmitter attaches
Metabotrophic: activates a G-protein which then activates an ion channel