1. Topic 6.5 Neurons and Synapses
2016

2. Parts of the Nervous System
Central nervous system (CNS)
Brain and spinal cord
Both contain fluid-filled spaces which contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
The central canal of the spinal cord is continuous with the ventricles of the brain.
White matter is composed of bundles of myelinated axons
Gray matter consists of unmyelinated axons, nuclei, and dendrites.
Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Everything outside the CNS.
Nervous System:

3. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

4. Neuron Anatomy

5. Neuron Anatomy

6. Membrane Potential
Membrane Potential: a term used to illustrate there is an electrical potential difference between the inside of the cell and the surrounding extracellular fluid.
-70 mV is the resting membrane potential of a neuron, which means that the inside of the cell is negative compared to the outside.
Membrane Potential:

8. Normal Levels
Sodium-Potassium Pump: is used in establishing the membrane potential in neurons
(1) it makes the [Na] high in the extracellular space and low in the intracellular space
(2) it makes the [K+] high in the intracellular space and low in the extracellular space
(3) it creates a negative voltage in the intracellular space compared to the extracellular space.

9. Hyperpolarization
Gated K+ channels open  K+ diffuses out of the cell  the membrane potential becomes more negative

10. Depolarization
Gated Na+ channels open  Na+ diffuses into the cell  the membrane potential becomes less negative

11. Action Potential Action Potential: All or Nothing Depolarization
If graded potentials sum to
 -55mV a threshold potential is achieved.
This triggers an action potential.
Axons only
Action Potential:
Action Potential w/ Graph:

12. Action Potential Diagram

13. Step 1: Resting State. Fig. 48.9
Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

14. Step 2: Threshold.
Fig. 48.9
Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

15. Step 3: Depolarization phase of the action potential.
Fig. 48.9
Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

16. Step 4: Repolarizing phase of the action potential.
Fig. 48.9
Copyright © 2002 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings

17. Moving Potential

18. Saltatory Conduction
In myelinated neurons, only unmyelinated regions of the axon depolarize. Signal jumps from one node to the next, making the impulse travel 100x faster than on a unmyelinated neurons.
Khan Academy:
Saltatory Conduction:
Fig

19. Synapses Electrical Synapses.
Action potentials travels directly from the presynaptic to the postsynaptic cells via gap junctions.

20. Chemical Synapses More common than electrical synapses.
Postsynaptic chemically-gated channels exist for ions such as Na+, K+, and Cl-.
Depending on which gates open the postsynaptic neuron can depolarize or hyperpolarize.

21. Fig

22. Routes of Nerve Transmission