1. Nervous System Notes Part 4

2. Neurons do not under go mitosis. Neurons are the largest cells in the human body. They can be up to 3 feet long. SOME MORE INTERESTING NERVOUS SYSTEM FACTS Exercise is not just for muscles, studies show that regular exercise improves nervous system functions, especially brain functions.

3. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Functional Properties of Neurons  Irritability  Ability to respond to stimuli  Conductivity  Ability to transmit an impulse

4. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Nerve Impulses  Resting neuron  The plasma membrane at rest is polarized  Fewer positive ions are inside the cell than outside the cell  Depolarization  A stimulus depolarizes the neuron’s membrane  A depolarized membrane allows sodium (Na+) to flow inside the membrane  The exchange of ions initiates an action potential in the neuron

5. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Nerve Impulses Figure 7.9a–b

6. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Nerve Impulses  Action potential  If the action potential (nerve impulse) starts, it is propagated over the entire axon  Impulses travel faster when fibers have a myelin sheath

7. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Nerve Impulses Figure 7.9c–d

8. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Nerve Impulses  Repolarization  Potassium ions rush out of the neuron after sodium ions rush in, which repolarizes the membrane  The sodium-potassium pump, using ATP, restores the original configuration

9. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Nerve Impulses Figure 7.9e–f

10. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Transmission of a Signal at Synapses  Impulses are able to cross the synapse to another nerve  Neurotransmitter is released from a nerve’s axon terminal  The dendrite of the next neuron has receptors that are stimulated by the neurotransmitter  An action potential is started in the dendrite

11. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Transmission of a Signal at Synapses Figure 7.10 Axon terminal Vesicles Synaptic cleft Action potential arrives Synapse Axon of transmitting neuron Receiving neuron Neurotrans- mitter is re- leased into synaptic cleft Neurotrans- mitter binds to receptor on receiving neuron’s membrane Vesicle fuses with plasma membrane Synaptic cleft Neurotransmitter molecules Ion channels Receiving neuron Transmitting neuron Receptor Neurotransmitter Na + Neurotransmitter broken down and released Ion channel opensIon channel closes

12. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Transmission of a Signal at Synapses Figure 7.10, step 1 Axon terminal Vesicles Synaptic cleft Action potential arrives Synapse Axon of transmitting neuron Receiving neuron

13. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Transmission of a Signal at Synapses Figure 7.10, step 2 Axon terminal Vesicles Synaptic cleft Action potential arrives Synapse Axon of transmitting neuron Receiving neuron Vesicle fuses with plasma membrane Synaptic cleft Ion channels Receiving neuron Transmitting neuron

14. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Transmission of a Signal at Synapses Figure 7.10, step 3 Axon terminal Vesicles Synaptic cleft Action potential arrives Synapse Axon of transmitting neuron Receiving neuron Neurotrans- mitter is re- leased into synaptic cleft Vesicle fuses with plasma membrane Synaptic cleft Neurotransmitter molecules Ion channels Receiving neuron Transmitting neuron

15. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Transmission of a Signal at Synapses Figure 7.10, step 4 Axon terminal Vesicles Synaptic cleft Action potential arrives Synapse Axon of transmitting neuron Receiving neuron Neurotrans- mitter is re- leased into synaptic cleft Neurotrans- mitter binds to receptor on receiving neuron’s membrane Vesicle fuses with plasma membrane Synaptic cleft Neurotransmitter molecules Ion channels Receiving neuron Transmitting neuron

16. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Transmission of a Signal at Synapses Figure 7.10, step 5 Axon terminal Vesicles Synaptic cleft Action potential arrives Synapse Axon of transmitting neuron Receiving neuron Neurotrans- mitter is re- leased into synaptic cleft Neurotrans- mitter binds to receptor on receiving neuron’s membrane Vesicle fuses with plasma membrane Synaptic cleft Neurotransmitter molecules Ion channels Receiving neuron Transmitting neuron Receptor Neurotransmitter Na + Ion channel opens

17. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Transmission of a Signal at Synapses Figure 7.10, step 6 Axon terminal Vesicles Synaptic cleft Action potential arrives Synapse Axon of transmitting neuron Receiving neuron Neurotrans- mitter is re- leased into synaptic cleft Neurotrans- mitter binds to receptor on receiving neuron’s membrane Vesicle fuses with plasma membrane Synaptic cleft Neurotransmitter molecules Ion channels Receiving neuron Transmitting neuron Receptor Neurotransmitter Na + Neurotransmitter broken down and released Ion channel opensIon channel closes

18. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Transmission of a Signal at Synapses Figure 7.10, step 7 Axon terminal Vesicles Synaptic cleft Action potential arrives Synapse Axon of transmitting neuron Receiving neuron Neurotrans- mitter is re- leased into synaptic cleft Neurotrans- mitter binds to receptor on receiving neuron’s membrane Vesicle fuses with plasma membrane Synaptic cleft Neurotransmitter molecules Ion channels Receiving neuron Transmitting neuron Receptor Neurotransmitter Na + Neurotransmitter broken down and released Ion channel opensIon channel closes