Neural Tissue and Neruophysiology

Summary of Nervous System Function

 Major Structual
and Functional
components of
the Nervous
System
Central Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
• Sensory
• Somatic
• Visceral
• Motor
• Somatic
• Visceral (Autonomic NS)
 Neuroglia (Glial Cells)

Astrocyte Microglial cell

Ependymal cells

Oligodendrocyte

Schwann cells and Satellite cells

 The structure of a neuron
Dendrites

Soma

Synapse

Myelin sheath
(Schwann cells) Axon
Schwann Cells
 Types of Neurons
Multipolar Neuron:
Motor neurons and
interneurons

Unipolar Neuron:
Sensory neurons

Bipolar Neuron:
Special sensory (vision,
hearing, smelling
Types of Synapses

Neuron-to-neuron

Neuromuscular

Neuroglandular
 Principles of Electricity
• Voltage: A potential energy that exists due
to a separation of charges

• Current: Flow of electrical charge from one

point to another
– Current α Voltage
– Current 1/α Resistance
Changes in the Transmembrane Potential

Chemically (Ligand) Gated Channels

Na+
Na+

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + - +++ + + + + + + + + + + +
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -+ -- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Na+
Na+
Changes in the Transmembrane Potential

Voltage Gated Channels

Na+
Na+

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - + + + + - + ++ + + + + + + + + + + +
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ++ - - - - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Na+
Na+
Changes in the Transmembrane Potential

Mechanically Gated Channels

Na+
Na+
Movement

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + +++ + + + + + + + + + + +
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Na+
Na+
The Resting Transmembrane Potential
The Transmembrane potential = Sum of Sum of
charges - charges
 The Transmembrane Potential:
Dynamic equilibrium
Membrane potential is “resting,” but not static:
• Leak channels permit ions (esp. K+) to escape
• Na+/K+ Exchange pump
- Removes 3 Na+ and pulls in 3 K+ using ATP

Na+
K+
Na+ Na+ K+
Na+ K+
Na+
Na+ Na+
Na+ Na+
Na+
Na+ Na+ Na+
Na+ Na+ Na+ Na+

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
K+ K+ K+ K+
K+ K+ Na+ Na+ K+
K+
K+
K+ K+ K+ K+
Na+ K+ K+ Na+
Signals: depolarization and hyperpolarization

Na+
Na+

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + + + +++ + + + + + + + + + + +
- - - - - - - - - - - Na+
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - K+
- - - - - - - - - - -

K+
K+
Graded Potentials
Action
2
Potentials
3

4
1

1 – resting state
2 – depolarization phase
3 – repolarization phase
4 – hyperpolarization
 Action Potentials:
Na+ and K+ voltage gated channels

Action potential
+30
Membrane potential (mV)

Relative membrane
3
0

permeability
2 PNa
PK
Threshold
–55 1 1
4
–70
Action Potentials: Propagation
• Voltage gated Na+ channels open in response to
graded potentials at the trigger zone

• Voltage gated Na+ channels open in response to

action potentials at the conduction zone

Conduction zone 
 Receptive zone
Action Potentials: Propagation
Action Potentials: Propagation
Refractory Periods
 Coding for Stimulus Intensity
• All action potentials are alike and are
independent of stimulus intensity

• The CNS determines stimulus intensity by the

frequency of impulse transmission
 Conduction Velocity
Factors:
• Axon diameter
• Degree of myelination

Saltatory Conduction
Types of Synapses:
Electrical vs. Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapse

Electrical synapse
The Cholinergic Synapse:
From Action Potential to Graded Potential
Neurotransmitter
Ac

Ca2+ Na+
ti
on

Receptor
Po

1
t en
tia
l

Postsynaptic
membrane

Ion channel open

Degraded Na+
neurotransmitter
2

3
4

Ion channel closed

Ion channel (open)
Termination of Neurotransmitter Effects
• Degradation (AChE)

• Reuptake

• Diffusion from synapse

Post-synaptic potentials