Structure and Functions of Cells of the Nervous System - Communication Within a Neuron

4 important questions on Structure and Functions of Cells of the Nervous System - Communication Within a Neuron

What is the difference in neural communication in a withdrawal reflex with inhibition of the effect and without inhibition of the effect?

In a withdrawal reflex without inhibition of the effect, the terminal buttons release a neurotransmitter which the interneuron sends to the motor neuron. This causes a contraction, causing the hand to move away from a hot object.

in a withdrawal reflex with inhibition of the effect, the terminal buttons release a neurotransmitter which the interneuron sends to the motor neuron. But instead of the contraction, the brain sends an axon which inhibits the motor neuron. This axon is the result of neural circuits in the brain that recognize possible bad outcomes.

What are the changes in electrical potential within a neuron when it is experiencing resting potential, hyperpolarization, depolarization and an action potential?

  • Resting potential: the outside of the axon is -70mV compared to the inside.
  • Hyperpolarization: when the inside of the axon becomes more negative relative to the outside.
  • Depolarization: when the inside of the axon it becomes more positive relative tot he outside.
  • Action potential: is triggered when a stimulus reaches the threshold of excitation. It is a burst of depolarization followed by hyperpolarization.

What is the propagation of an action potential?

In unmyelinated axons, the action potential is subject to decremental conduction. In myelinated axons, the action potential is conducted via salutatory conduction, which speeds the message, reduces decremental conduction and renews the action potential at the nodes of Ranvier.
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What do the all-or-none law and the rate law mean in the case of action potential?

The all-or-none law states that an action potential either occurs or it doesn't, and, once triggered, it is transmitted till the end of the axon. An action potential always remains the exact same size. The stronger the stimuli, the higher the axon's rate of firing action potentials.

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