BIO202H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 33: Axon Hillock, Threshold Potential, Resting Potential

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1 Oct 2018
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STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS OF NEURONS
- Unique features: communicate to 10,000 other cells
- Conduct signals via action potentials in axons
- Graded potential limited to dendrites and cell body
- Graded potentials are slightly more positive than the
resting potential, but they do not reach the threshold level
to initiate an action potential
- Communicate with other cells via synapses and
neurotransmitters
GRADED POTENTIAL AND STIMULUS STRENGTH
- If the concentration of neurotransmitters that activate
ligand-gated channels on dendrites of cell body is low, the
neuron does not reach threshold potential at the axon
hillock (inhibitory potential)
- If the concentration of neurotransmitters that activate
ligand-gated channels on dendrites or cell body is high, the
neuron reaches the threshold potential at the axon hillock
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Document Summary

Unique features: communicate to 10,000 other cells. Conduct signals via action potentials in axons. Graded potential limited to dendrites and cell body. Graded potentials are slightly more positive than the resting potential, but they do not reach the threshold level to initiate an action potential. Communicate with other cells via synapses and neurotransmitters. If the concentration of neurotransmitters that activate ligand-gated channels on dendrites of cell body is low, the neuron does not reach threshold potential at the axon hillock (inhibitory potential) If the concentration of neurotransmitters that activate ligand-gated channels on dendrites or cell body is high, the neuron reaches the threshold potential at the axon hillock (excitatory potential) and action potential is more likely to occur. Spatial summation: two or more subthreshold graded potentials may exceed the threshold. Temporal summation: subthreshold depolarizations occurring at slightly different times may exceed the threshold. Graded potential exceeds threshold potential at the axon hillock.

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