PSYCH 1XX3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Potassium Channel, Myelin, Neuroglia
19 Mar 2013
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Document Summary
In modern times, the challenge for neuroscience is to understand how the biological brain produces the mental processes of the mind. Neurons are cells that are specialized for communication. Each of your 100 billion neurons are organized into signalling pathways to communicate via synaptic transmission. What makes neurons good at communicating is their unique structure: a typical neuron contains two distinct zones. A receptive zone designed to receive signals from other neurons. Made up of dendrites branching out from the cell body. A transmission zone designed to pass on signals to other cells. Made up of the axon and terminal boutons. A neuron"s cell membrane separates the intracellular fluid, which fills the neuron and the extracellular fluid, which surrounds it. Each contains different concentrations of important ions, including sodium, potassium and chloride. The cell membrane is selectively permeable, preferentially allowing different ions to pass through it with various levels of ease.
