CMD 377 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Axon Terminal, Resting Potential, Neurotransmission
Document Summary
Cmd 377 - lecture 8 - neurons and neurotransmission. About 100 billion in the nervous system. Cells specialized for sending and receiving signals. Supports the metabolic needs of the rest of the neuron. Receive information from other neurons through synaptic contacts. Conduct information away from the cell body to other neurons. Fatty substances wrapped around an axon (white matter) Axon terminals (synaptic endings) form synapses on other neurons. Cell membrane outside cover of the neuron. Semi-permeable some things can come in and out of the cell. Some provide channel for certain ions to enter/leave. Each ion has its own specific molecule channel. Channels are voltage-gated open/close in response to changes in the electrical potential across the membrane. Cytoplasm fluid within the cell body. Contains chemical substances involved in transmission between cells. Determined by the number of processes in the particular neuron. One process which divides into the receiving and conducting part. Axon and dendrite in one process together.