Neural Tissue and Neruophysiology
Summary of Nervous System Function
Major Structual
and Functional
components of
the Nervous
System
Central Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
• Sensory
• Somatic
• Visceral
• Motor
• Somatic
• Visceral (Autonomic NS)
Neuroglia (Glial Cells)
Astrocyte Microglial cell
Ependymal cells
Oligodendrocyte
Schwann cells and Satellite cells
The structure of a neuron
Dendrites
Soma
Synapse
Myelin sheath
(Schwann cells) Axon
Schwann Cells
Types of Neurons
Multipolar Neuron:
Motor neurons and
interneurons
Unipolar Neuron:
Sensory neurons
Bipolar Neuron:
Special sensory (vision,
hearing, smelling
Types of Synapses
Neuron-to-neuron
Neuromuscular
Neuroglandular
Principles of Electricity
• Voltage: A potential energy that exists due
to a separation of charges
• Current: Flow of electrical charge from one
point to another
– Current α Voltage
– Current 1/α Resistance
Changes in the Transmembrane Potential
Chemically (Ligand) Gated Channels
Na+
Na+
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + - +++ + + + + + + + + + + +
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Na+
Na+
Changes in the Transmembrane Potential
Voltage Gated Channels
Na+
Na+
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + + + - + ++ + + + + + + + + + + +
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ++ - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Na+
Na+
Changes in the Transmembrane Potential
Mechanically Gated Channels
Na+
Na+
Movement
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + +++ + + + + + + + + + + +
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Na+
Na+
The Resting Transmembrane Potential
The Transmembrane potential = Sum of Sum of
charges - charges
The Transmembrane Potential:
Dynamic equilibrium
Membrane potential is “resting,” but not static:
• Leak channels permit ions (esp. K+) to escape
• Na+/K+ Exchange pump
- Removes 3 Na+ and pulls in 3 K+ using ATP
Na+
K+
Na+ Na+ K+
Na+ K+
Na+
Na+ Na+
Na+ Na+
Na+
Na+ Na+ Na+
Na+ Na+ Na+ Na+
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
K+ K+ K+ K+
K+ K+ Na+ Na+ K+
K+
K+
K+ K+ K+ K+
Na+ K+ K+ Na+
Signals: depolarization and hyperpolarization
Na+
Na+
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + +++ + + + + + + + + + + +
- - - - - - - - - - - Na+
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - K+
- - - - - - - - - - -
K+
K+
Graded Potentials
Action
2
Potentials
3
4
1
1 – resting state
2 – depolarization phase
3 – repolarization phase
4 – hyperpolarization
Action Potentials:
Na+ and K+ voltage gated channels
Action potential
+30
Membrane potential (mV)
Relative membrane
3
0
permeability
2 PNa
PK
Threshold
–55 1 1
4
–70
Action Potentials: Propagation
• Voltage gated Na+ channels open in response to
graded potentials at the trigger zone
• Voltage gated Na+ channels open in response to
action potentials at the conduction zone
Conduction zone
Receptive zone
Action Potentials: Propagation
Action Potentials: Propagation
Refractory Periods
Coding for Stimulus Intensity
• All action potentials are alike and are
independent of stimulus intensity
• The CNS determines stimulus intensity by the
frequency of impulse transmission
Conduction Velocity
Factors:
• Axon diameter
• Degree of myelination
Saltatory Conduction
Types of Synapses:
Electrical vs. Chemical Synapses
Chemical synapse
Electrical synapse
The Cholinergic Synapse:
From Action Potential to Graded Potential
Neurotransmitter
Ac
Ca2+ Na+
ti
on
Receptor
Po
1
t en
tia
l
Postsynaptic
membrane
Ion channel open
Degraded Na+
neurotransmitter
2
3
4
Ion channel closed
Ion channel (open)
Termination of Neurotransmitter Effects
• Degradation (AChE)
• Reuptake
• Diffusion from synapse
Post-synaptic potentials
