AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

Neuronal Physiology Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
2883676946SynapseWhere one axon communicates with another0
2883681064Neurons in CNS-Most connect to other neurons -Dense configuration -Produce thoughts, movements, perceptions1
2883685018Neurons in PNSMost connect to muscles2
28837115893 types of neurons-multipolar -unipolar -bipolar3
2883713646Parts of neuron: dendrites-shorter projections; extensive branches -receive natural stimuli -conduct stimuli toward cell body4
2883722779Parts of neurons: Axons-longer single projections -conduct impulses away from the cell body -synapse with other neurons, glands, or muscles5
2883750244Electrical signalingdepends on chemical makeup of intracellular and extracellular fluids -contains sodium, potassium, calcium, chloride6
2883754322Neuronal membranepermeable to small molecules that compose water, but impermeable to large protein ions inside the cell7
2883761333Extracellular fluid of neurons in CSFcontains more fluid than intracellular fluid8
2883764788osmotic forcefluids move from region of higher concentration to region of lower concentration9
2883773754Concentration gradient-required to maintain appropriate ion ratio across the membrane -maintained by channels and pumps in cell membrane10
2883783075Concentration gradient channels-selective to one ion (sodium, potassium, or chloride -gated channels open under certain conditions (chemical or electrical) -ligand sensitive channel proteins open/close channel in response to chemicals or neurotransmitters11
2883792930Non gated channelsstay open12
2883795369Pumps- water filled proteins open on only one side at a time13
2883796905Sodium-potassium pumpprovides energy to cell via electrical gradient powered by the positively and negatively charged ions14
2883803049Electrical forces: Intracellular fluidOverall negative charge -high concentration of K, low concentration of Na and chloride -large, negatively charged ions15
2883814082Electrical forces: extracellular fluid-overall positive charge -no negatively charged proteins -sodium and chloride concentration is high; potassium is low16
2883818723Electrical potentials-created by ionic differences across cell membrane -allow for conduction of electrical current17
2883821882Resting stateNo communication between cells18
2883850714Cellular potential-relative amount of voltage in an electrical field -neuron has 2 electrical fields-one inside and one outside the cell19
2883854735Resting potential-ionic differences across cell membrane are approximately -70mV (intracellular fluid is more negative than extracellular fluid) -cell is not responding to outside influences-steady state -cell is not firing neural impulses20
2883863759Neural messaging: deoplarizationinside of the cell becomes less negative relative to the outside of the cell (-55mV)21
2883866417Action potential-created when cell membrane is depolarized -begins at the axon hillock and extends down the entire axon -brief, electrical current sent from one nerve cell to another -send along axon for long distances without change in velocity or waveform (all or nothing)22
2883881315Absolute refractory period-short time following action potential when cell membrane is unable to respond to another stimulus -appx .8 ms -prevents stimulus from traveling back up the axon23
2883887412Relatie refractory periodshort time following absolute refractory period24
2883904588Graded potentials (local potentials)-usually generated by sensory input -causes change in coeducation along membrane of sensory -can be initiated at any point along cell membrane where excitatory or inhibitory synapse has taken place -not all or nothing, can change in strength25
2883914700Hyperpolarization-inside of cell becomes more negative relative to outside of cell -due to chloride ions influx -a greater stimulus is then required to generate an action potential26
2883926599Myelin-white fatty sheath around large axons of CNS, large peripheral nerves, and cranial nerves -produced by oligs in the CNS and shwann cells in the PNS -neural conduction along myleinated fibers is 50x faster than unmyleinated fibers27
2883934503Nodes of Ranvier-indentations in myelin that allows neural impulses to travel more rapidly -saltatory conduction28
2883945193Myelin disorders: MSdemyleinating disease; caused by autoimmune inflammatory response -acons die to lack of neural activity -sensory and motor losses reflect region of neural damage *speech result: dysarthria29
2884006821The synapse-the space between neurons -presynaptic terminal--end of axon -synaptic cleft -postsynaptic terminal-receiving cell membrane30
2884013237Transmissions across synapse-usually chemical- due to neurotransmitters released from synaptic vessels at the end of terminal button -occasionally electrical-- immediate; no neurotransmitter involved allows neurons to fire in synchrony ex. neurons in medulla that control inspiration31
2884029048Neurontransmitters-Basis for chemical transmission of signal through the nervous system -have excitatory or inhibitory effects on postsynaptic membrane --> glutamate: most prevalent excitatory neurotransmitter --> amino butyric acid (gaba) most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter32
2884041448Disorders of neurotransmitters: Parkinsons disease-decrease in dopamine production due to death of cells in substantial nigra -produces resting trremor and difficulty with controlled movement33
2884046312Disorders of neurotransmitters: Epilepsy-over activity of glutamatergic neurons that lead to successive citation of too many neurons -anti seizure drugs work to increase GABA to inhibit neural firing34
2884055807Disorders of neurotransmitters: Mysathenia Gravis-Problem with neurotransmitters in motor system -neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) falls upon sustained muscle contraction -symptom: weakness upon sustained effort -in early stages of disease muscle function returns after period of rest and restoration of acetylcholine and NMJs35
2884069149Primary neuronal lossimmediate degeneration36
2884070879Secondary neuronal loss-occurs after insult -highly variable, depends on blood flow, edema, inflammation, and the integrity of the blood brain barrier -after CVA occurs in region adjacent to insult37
2884078343Adult CNS-typically does not regenerate neurons --> exceptions: olfactory epithelium and hippocampus -->possibility: regeneration of neuron and when axon is damaged; typically with contacts to only nearby neurons -whole groups of cels can die off at once38
2884085554Adult PNSregeneration occurs following compression of peripheral nerve but if not severed. axon regrows at site of injury39

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!