Anatomy and Cell Biology 4451F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Neurotransmitter Receptor, Dendrite, Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential
12 Sep 2018
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Most of the neurons have dendritic tree, soma, and an axon. This axon is very long and very thin. In terms of function of neuron, these compartments have different functions. Functional compartimentation: dendritic tree is mostly for reception, receives bulk of synaptic input. Inhibitory is often directed under the dendritic shaft, close to soma: signals will integrate and summate and eventually reach the cell body. Important feature: a signal is encoded by the amount of depolarization (amplitude) in dendritic tree, whereas in axon hillock, it will be encoded in an all or non potential (frequency). Amplitude modulated (am signal) in dendritic tree, frequency modulated (fm signal) at output of axon hillock: at the end of axon, there is output generated, what happens here is synaptic transmission. Passive spread: passive spread (no change in membrane permeability, no voltage gated sodium or potassium channels) the spread of electromagnetic waves, very fast! (theoretically speed of light)
