ANP 1105 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Axon Hillock, Axon Terminal, Electrochemical Gradient

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Anatomy and Physiology
• Course: ANP 1105
• Professor: Jacqueline Carnegie

Document Summary

Neurons: neurons are structural units of the nervous system, typically large, highly specialized cells, conduct messages in the form of nerve pulses from one part of the body to another. Cannot survive for more than a few minutes without oxygen: all have a cell body and one or more slender processes. Three functional regions: receptive region, conductive region, secretory region. In cns contain: cell bodies and processes, in pns contain: mostly processes: bundles of neuron processes in cns: tracts, in pns: nerves. 2 types of processes: dendrites and axons (differ in structure and pm) Function: axon generates nerve impulses and transmits them away from cell body, along pm (or axolemma) In motor neurons, impulse is generated at junction between axon hillock and axon, called the trigger zone, and conducted along axon to axon terminals (secretory region) *clinical note: viruses such as polio and rabies reach cell body through retrograde movement.