Essay Question for exam 3

Describe how action potentials are generated and propagated along

neurons. Include in your description how intracellular voltage changes
during the action potential by labeling the action potential tracing (shown
below) and describing what is occurring at that particular time.
The answer to this question can be found early in Chapt. 11
Points to include. Certainly may include more:
Presynaptic axon:
Action potential
Axon terminal
Ca++ influx via VGCa++ channels
Vesicles
ACh
Synaptic Cleft
Postsynaptic Dendrite:
ACh receptors
Acetylcholinesterase
Na/K channels
Threshold potential
Graded potential
VGNa Channel
Action Potential
Unmyelinated Action Potential
Cell Body
Axon Hillock
Action Potential and myelination (Saltatory conduction vs. conduction along unmyelinated sheath)
Axon terminal
Ca++ influx
 Ohms Law: V = I x R
Know the neurotransmitters
Structural features of a neuron
Saltatory conduction
Na/K pump
 Neural support cells
 Neuron Classification structure: uni, bi,
multi
 Neuron Classification function:
Sensory (afferent): transmit impulses from sensory receptors in
the skin or internal organs toward or into the CNS
All are unipolar
Cell bodies are located in sensory ganglia outside of the CNS
Only most distal parts act as receptor sites, with long peripheral
processes (e.g. again, the great toe)
Motor (efferent): carry impulses away from the CNS to the
effector organs (e.g. muscles, glands)
Multipolar
Cell bodies are located in the CNS
Interneurons (association neurons): lie between sensory & motor
neurons in neural pathways
Confined to the CNS
99% of neurons in the body
multipolar
 Types of plasma membrane ion
channels:
Passive, or leakage, channels always open
but selective to the ion they let in
Chemically gated/ligand gated channels
open with binding of a specific chemical
(neurotransmitter)
Voltage-gated channels open and close in
response to changes in membrane potential
Mechanically gated channels open and close
in response to physical deformation of
receptors (e.g. touch or pressure receptors)
PLAY InterActive Physiology :
Nervous System I: Ion Channels
 Membrane potentials: what are they and
where do they come from
Graded potentials
Action potentials
Propagation of an Action Potential
(Time = 0ms)

Figure 11.13a
 Propagation of an Action
Potential
(Time = 2ms)
Ions of the extracellular fluid move toward
the area of greatest negative charge
A current is created that depolarizes the
adjacent membrane in a forward direction
The impulse propagates away from its
point of origin
Propagation of an Action
Potential
(Time = 2ms)

Figure 11.13b
 Propagation of an Action
Potential
(Time = 4ms)
The action potential moves away from the
stimulus
Where sodium gates are closing,
potassium gates are open and create a
current flow
Propagation of an Action
Potential
(Time = 4ms)

Figure 11.13c
Threshold and Action Potentials
Threshold membrane is depolarized by 15 to
20 mV
Established by the total amount of current
flowing through the membrane
Weak (subthreshold) stimuli are not relayed into
action potentials
Strong (threshold) stimuli are relayed into action
potentials
All-or-none phenomenon action potentials
either happen completely, or not at all
 Brain structure
Brain ventricles
Structures of cerebral hemispheres
Grey cortex, white matter, basal nuclei
Lobes of the brain
 Primary (somatic) motor cortex
Premotor cortex
Brocas area
Frontal eye field
 Primary somatosensory cortex
Somatosensory association cortex
Visual and auditory areas
Olfactory, gustatory, and vestibular
cortices
 Location/function/etc.
Cerebral White Matter
Basal Nuclei
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Midbrain
Cerebellum
Brainstem
Consists of three regions midbrain, pons, and
medulla oblongata
 Brainwaves
Sleep
Memory
 Protection of the brain
bone, meninges, cerebrospinal fluid, blood-brain
barrier
 Spinal cord
Anatomy
Gray & white matter and spinal roots
Ascending pathways: specific and
nonspecific
Descending pathways: direct and indirect
 PNS
Receptor Classification by Stimulus Type
Receptor Class by Location
Receptor Classification by Structural
Complexity
 Organization of the Somatosensory
System: receptor level, circuit level,
perceptual level
 Classification of nerves
Sensory and motor divisions
Sensory (afferent) carry impulse to the CNS
Motor (efferent) carry impulses from CNS
Mixed sensory and motor fibers carry impulses to
and from CNS; most common type of nerve
Ganglia: a collection of neuron cell bodies
associated with nerves in the PNS
 Regeneration of nerves
The cranial nerves
The spinal nerves
 Spinal Nerves: Roots

Ventral roots: motor (efferent) fibers

Dorsal roots: sensory (afferent) fibers
They unite to form a spinal nerve before emerging from the
vertebral column via a intervertebral foramina
After emerging, from foramina, spinal nerve divides into small
dorsal, ventral rami and menigeal branch (that re enters the
vertebral column
 Innervation of Specific Body Regions
Rami and plexuses
Skin (dermatomes)
Innervation of Visceral Muscle and Glands
Hierarchy of motor control
Reflexes
ANS
 ANS Versus Somatic Nervous System
(SNS)
Sympathetic vs. parasympathetic
 Parasympathetic Division Outflow
Sympathetic Division Outflow
 Neurotransmitters and receptors
Acetylcholine (ACh) and norepinephrine (NE)
are the two major neurotransmitters of the ANS
ACh is released by:
1) All preganglionic axons
2) All parasympathetic postganglionic axons
Cholinergic fibers ACh-releasing fibers
Adrenergic fibers sympathetic postganglionic
axons that release NE
Neurotransmitter effects can be excitatory or
inhibitory depending upon the receptor type