BIO SCI 93 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Neuroglia, Resting Potential, Membrane Potential

• School: UC-Irvine
• Department: Biological Sciences
• Course: BIO SCI 93
• Professor: Busciglio/ Wood/ Green

Document Summary

Nerve cells that transfer information within the body. Use two types of signals: electrical signals = long distance, chemical signals = short signals. Transmission of information depends on the path of neurons along which a signal travels. Processing info takes place in simple clusters of neurons: ganglia, or more complex organization. Passes information across the synapse in the form of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. Information transmitted from presynaptic cell to postsynaptic cell. Most neurons are nourished or insulated by cells called glia. Tumors arise from uncontrollable cell division resulting in mass of cells: can be malignant or benign, neurons do not divide. Ions pumps and channels maintain resting potential of neuron. Every cell has a voltage difference across its plasma membrane called a membrane potential. Resting potential: membrane potential of neuron not sending signals, localized electrical gradient across plasma membrane, formation of resting potential. Inside of neuron slightly more negative in relation to outside.