Main functions
Central nervous system
* Spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
• Peripheral nerves - rest of body (communication)
Sensory pathways
Afferent and efferent
Afferent
Signal towards CNS, away from muscle
Efferent
Signals towards muscle, away from CNS
Neurons
Communicate messages from one part of the body to another
Neuroglia
Support and protect neurons
Neurons comprised of
Dendrites in neuron function
Receive incoming messages
CNS group of cells and bundles called
Nuclei and tracts
PNS group of cells and bundles called
Ganglia and nerves
Cell body in neuron contain
Processes of axon in neuron
Neurotransmitters
Resting membrane
Negative 70mV inside, positive outside
Neuron communicates through
Action potential traveling through the neuron. They use changes in membrane potential to send signals
Membranes have which pumps
Sodium and potassium
2 potassium in, 3 sodium out
Resting Membrane Potential
Movement of electrical current depends on having a difference in voltage across the neuron membrane
Stages of action potential (mV)
1) Resting state (-70)
2) Depolarisation (up to 30)
3) Repolarisation (down to -90)
4) Hyperpolarization (up to -70)
Action potential
Electrical impulse conducted along axon until reaching axon terminal
Synapse
The functional junction between two neurons, a neuron and muscle or gland
Steps of message sent through action potential
1) Action potential arrives at axon
2) Voltage gated calcium channels opens and calcium enters the axon terminal
3) Calcium entry causes synaptic vesicles to release neurotransmitter by exocytosis
4) Neurotransmitter diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to specific receptors on the postsynaptic membrane
Removal of neurotransmitters
• Diffusion
• Enzymatic degradation
• Reuptake
Important to stop sending messages/contracting