Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
BMS
How do cells communicate to allow them to operate as part of a higher system?
- gap junction - cell - cell junctions between tightly opposed plasma membranes. Direct
connection between cells for small soluble signals. Allows communication without the need to
negotiate the plasma membrane
- Free diffusion
- steroids and gases can diffuse freely across the membrane
Different forms of signalling from secreted molecules
- Paracrine
- Released signals only affect cells in the immediate cellular environment
- Signal is usually terminated by either
- Uptake into neighbouring cells -Destruction by extracellular enzymes Sequestration by extracellular matrix
- Autocrine signalling
- The signal is released onto the same cell type
- a group of identical cells produces a higher concentration secreted signal than a single
cell can
- Synaptic signalling
- Neurones are specialised cells that can transmit information to separate parts of the body
- Activation at its dendrite triggers electrical impulses (action potentials) along the neuronal
axon
- Synaptic junctions mean that the signal is transmitted both Specifically and Quickly
- Arises from the physical location of the signalling site and the receptor.
- Because of this the diversity of chemical neurotransmitters is relatively small.
- Endocrine signalling
- endocrine cells secrete signals called hormones into the blood
- Only certain cells have the appropriate receptor to recognize specific hormones
- Arises from the combination of different signalling molecules being recognised by an
equally divergent array of receptors.