what is action potential
electrical messages that are sent down the axon of a neuron
describe how the electricity in an action potential is generated
it is created by a sudden reversal in charge
what is the main component of the cell membrane
fats called phospholipids
define hydrophilic
water loving
hydrophilic heads make up the outside of the membrane
define hydrophobic
water repelling
hydrophobic tail makes up the inside
the Na+/K+ pump pumps 3 Na+ ions out of the cell for every 2 K+ ions it brings into the cell. Is this specialized protein working via active or passive transport
active transport because the pump uses ATP to change the shape of the protein so that the Na+ can get in
what causes the inside of the membrane to reverse charge and begin the action potential
when potassium channels close and sodium rushed in
which membrane protein is responsible for restoring the original concentration of Na+ and K+
the Na+/K+ pump
what happens when action potential reaches the end of the axon at the axon terminals? How does one neuron communicate with another neuron and complete the circuit?
the vesicles release neurotransmitters. This cross the synapse and are accepted by the receptors in the dendrites of the next neuron. The second neuron then makes second messages that travel through that neuron and the impulse continue
cell membrane
controls the movement of substances in and out of cells. The basic function of the cell membrane is to protect the cell from its surroundings.
cell body
produces energy and produces all the proteins for the dendrites, axons and synaptic terminals
dendrites
receive messages from other neurons and transmit to the cell body
axon
carries messages away from the cell body
axon terminals
the ending of the axon that connects to the neural target, contains the neural transmitters to be released.
myeline sheath
increase the speed at which impulses propagate along the myelinated fiber
nodes of ranvier
electricity can be conducted with the cell's environment, and the electrical signal will be propagated down the axon.
synapse
transfer electric activity (information) from one cell to another.
neurotransmitter
that transmit signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse