Week 5 Flashcards
What did Ramón y Cajal conclude
that discrete individual neurons are the structural and functional units of the nervous system
What does the Nissl stain label
The main part of the cell
What does the Golgi stain, stain?
only stains approximately 1–2% of neurons, this allows the interpreter to distinguish between one cell from another
Resting Membrane Potential?
describes what occurs in a neuron at rest, when it is theoretically not receiving or sending signals
what are the similarities between intracellular, and extracellular, resting membrane potential?
both fluids are composed of ions (electrically charged molecules). this composition is made of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), Chloride (Cl-) and anions (A-)
Are cations positively charged ions or negative
positive
Are anions positively charged ions or negative
negative
how many neurons in the brain approx.?
100 billion
what are the 3 main components of a neuron
dendrites, somas, axons
What does a dendrite look like and what does it do
stems out of the soma, and norm. branches out several times. receives info from other neurons, main source of input for the neuron
What does the soma contain and do
contains the nucleus and supports the chemical balancing of the neuron
what does the nucleus do
contains genetic info, directs protein synthesis, supllies the energy and the resources the neuron needs to function
what does axon look like and do
stems away from the soma, carries important signal called the action potential to other neurons
What are axons covered in
myelin sheath
What is the myelin sheath purpose
allows the signal and communication of one neuron to travel quickly to another neuron.
What are nodes of ranvier and how does it interact with action potential
gaps in the myelin sheath, action potentil jumps from node to node
What is saltatory conduction
when the action potential jumps from node to node of the nodes of ranvier in the myelin sheath
Where is the terminal button located
at the end of an axon, it forms synapses with spines/protrusions on the dendrites of other neurons
What are synapses. Where do they form
where the axon comes in contact with a dendrite of another neuron. form between the presynaptic terminal button and the postsynaptic membrane
What is the synaptic gap?
tiny space between presynaptic terminal button and the postsynaptic dendritic spine.
what do neurotransmitters do and from where do they do it
carry chemical messages. they leave the presynaptic terminal button, travel thru the synaptic gap, and activate ion channels on the postsynaptic spine
3 diff types of neurons
motor neurons, sensory neurons, interneurons
what do motor neurons do?
are about initiating and allowing actions and behavior
sensory neurons?
are about our personal experiences and how we receive info from the world around us
interneurons
process the info around us: takes info from the sensory neurons, processes it to come up with the appropriate response, and then conveys the message to the motor neurons to act upon it
what are unipolar neurons made up of?
one axon, no dendrites