Grade 12 Biology: The Nervous System

Neurons

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Introduction

neuron is a type of cell that specialize in transmitting electrical and chemical signals overall structure consists of four sections (in order): dendrites, cell body, axon and synapse

Dendrites and Cell body

dendrites carry signal from the other neurons to its own cell body cell body consists of normal cell stuctures (cell membranes, nucleus etc)

Axon

Axons carry signal away from the cell body. Many axons are covered in myelin sheath that are made up of schwann cells in between of the schwann cells of the myelin sheath lies the nodes of ranvier signals propagate through the axon by jumping from the node of ranviers in the axon

Synapse

at the end of the axon lies the synapse, the end of the neuron in the synapse, calcium ions stimulates neurotransmitter vesicles and these neurotransmitters binds on the postsynaptic membrane the binding causes the attached dendrite on another neuron to depolarize

Action Potential

the process of the signal event is what known as an action potential when the neuron is not propagating signals, the neuron is at a resting potential of -70mV during the period of resting potential, there would be greater concentration of potassium ions than sodium ions within the neuron the high concentration of potassium ions are held by sodium/potassium pumps in order to maintain a negative potential

Action Potential

when the neuron is stimulated strongly enough (all or none response) to reach a certain threshold, the first stage of action potential occurs; depolarization the amplitude of action remains the same no matter the degree of the stimulus

Action Potential

depolarization occurs when the sodium gates are open and closing the potassium gates, causing sodium ions rush in but potassium ions cannot get out, making the neuron having a positive potential (around +40mV) once it reaches approximately 40mV, a period known as repolarization occurs which the sodium channel closes and the potassium channels to open, causing a drop of potential.

Action Potential

after repolarization, potassium gates started to close, making the overall potential hyperpolarized. This means that the potential is more negative than the resting potential, usually around -80 mV after hyperpolarization, sodium and potassium gates would then be open, putting the neuron back to resting potential action potential cannot initiate without the neuron back in resting potential first

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