neurophysiology

run

fight

watch speak

listen think

taste

smell
 Chapter 1

Jing Ying T.A.

Department of Physiology
E-mail: willa2004@yahoo.com
 Organization of the nervous system
 Synaptic transmission
 Transmitter substances
 General design of the nervous system
human nervous system----
central nervous system (CNS):
brain
spinal cord
peripheral nervous system (PNS)
 General design of the nervous system

I neuron and neuroglia:

neuron—the basic functional unit
neuroglia----indispensable
 General design of the nervous system
neuron-----
 structure of neuron
cell body
neurite: dentrite and axon

 classification based on
function
sensory neurons:
motor neurons:
interneurons:
 General design of the nervous system
types and functions of the neuroglia (glia cell):
astrocytes: to provide a supportive matrix around the neurons
to form part of the blood-brain barrier
oligodentrocytes: to provide a electrically insulating sheath
around the axon myelin
ependymal cells: those lining the ventricles and spinal cord canals
microglia: a kind of tissue macrophage

Schwann cells: to form insulating sheath outside the CNS

 General design of the nervous system

II organization
(storage
)
Sensory neurons Motor neurons

(afferent pathway) (efferent pathway)

brain
receptors effectors

eg: retina, cochlea

spinal eg: muscles
cord
or glands
 synaptic transmission

I synapse:
where the nerve impulses
are passed on from one
neuron to another/others.

II types of synapses:
chemical synapse
electrical synapse
 synaptic transmission
III structure and function of a chemical synapse
3 parts:
presynaptic terminals
postsynaptic membrane
synaptic cleft
 synaptic transmission
Transmitter release from the presynaptic terminals:
Arrival of an action potential at a nerve terminal depolarizes
the presynaptic membrane, increasing its permiability to Ca++
by opening voltage-operated channals.
Calcium ions diffuse down their electrochemical gradient into
the nerve terminal.
The increase in intracellular
[Ca++] triggers fusion of the
synaptic vesicles with the
presynaptic membrane and
neurotransmitter is released into
the synaptic cleft by exocytosis.
 synaptic transmission
Action of neurotransmitter on the postsynaptic neuron
Transmitter diffuses across to the postsynaptic membrane
where it binds with postsynaptic receptors.
Receptor-operated ion channels are opened as a result,
generating a postsynaptic ion current.
Depending on the transmitter
and receptor involved, this may
either excite or inhibit the
postsynaptic neuron.
The signal is terminated when
the transmitter is released from
the receptor. The transmitter is
then broken down or taken up
again by the nerves.
 synaptic transmission
receptor proteins:
as ion channels
to trigger “second messenger” system
 synaptic transmission
Excitatory transmission
---excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
The electrical response recorded from the postsynaptic
neurons consists of a brief depolarization followed by a
slower decline to the resting potential, is known as an
EPSP.
synaptic transmission
 synaptic transmission
Inhibitory transmission
---inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
The electrical response recorded from the postsynaptic
neurons consists of a hyperpolarization followed by a
slower decline to the resting potential, is known as an
IPSP.
synaptic transmission
 transmitter substance
acetylcholine: important excitatory transmitter in the brain
and spinal cord. It is also involved in ganglionic
transmission in autonomic nerves as well as being the
peripheral transmitter at the skeletal neuro-muscle junction
and in postganglionic parasympathetic nerves.
 transmitter substance

catecholamines: include dopamine, noradrenaline/ norepi-

nephrine and adrnaline/epinephrine, which share a
common synthetic pathway.

Tyrosine L-dopa dopamine noradrenaline

adrenaline

transmitter substances
 transmitter substance

Amino acids: glycine, GABA (both cause inhibition) and

glutamate (causes excitation ).
Peptides: as probable or possible neurotransmitters, such
as substance P (play a role in the central transmission of
pain signals), endorphins (inhibit pain pathways). And
some may slao be released along with a classical
transmitter by a single neuron, for example, acetylcholine
and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) coexist in some
parasympathetic nerves.
Nitric oxide: especially in areas of the brian that are
responsible for long-term behavior and for memory.
myelin
the release of neurotransmitter by exocytosis