BIOL 1F25 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Central Nervous System, Axon Terminal, Sensory Neuron
11 Jun 2015
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Similarities to other cells: plasma membrane, cytoplasm, organelles (mitochondria, protein synthesizing machinery, nucleus. Features unique to neurons: dendrites: generally information receiving areas, axons: generally info. transmitting areas (only 1 axon emerges from the cell body) Classi cation of neurons: shape e. g pyramidal cells of hippocampus, location e. g. cerebellum (cerebellar cels) hippocammpus (hippocampal cells) Or location in circuit: primary, secondary etc: function, motor neuron (bring information out, sensory neuron (bring information in, interneuron (anything not a motor/sensory neuron) The dendrites receive information from other neurons and sensory receptors & generate an electrical signal which enables our nervous system to respond quickly (e. g. re ex of burning your arm) Practically all of the action potential"s in the cell look identical. Neurons have different functions because of the connections they make. Cajal"s principle of connectional speci city: no cytoplasmic continuity, no random connections, specialized connection patterns (that determine the nature of the behaviours they control)
