NeuroscienceLesson 2 of 2 in the course The Nervous System and Nervous Tissue

Neuronal Signaling and Proteopathy: Potentials, Synapses, and Receptors

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Neurons receive and integrate information through temporary changes in membrane voltage. This lesson introduces graded potentials, explains how ions create depolarization or hyperpolarization, and distinguishes the main types of graded potentials.

A graded potential is a local, temporary change in a cell’s membrane potential. Graded potentials are commonly associated with dendrites and sensory receptor regions. Unlike an action potential, a graded potential does not have a fixed size: its magnitude depends on the strength of the stimulus. A mild stimulus produces a small change, while a stronger stimulus can produce a larger one.

All flashcards

Graded potential
A local, temporary change in membrane voltage whose magnitude varies with the stimulus.
Generator potential
A graded potential in a sensory neuron that can lead to an action potential in that neuron's axon.
Receptor potential
A graded change in a sensory receptor cell that controls neurotransmitter release onto a sensory neuron.
EPSP and IPSP
An EPSP depolarizes a postsynaptic membrane toward threshold; an IPSP hyperpolarizes it away from threshold.
Chemical synapse
A connection where one cell releases neurotransmitter across a cleft to affect another cell.

Quiz questions

  1. When an action potential reaches a chemical synapse's axon terminal, which event promotes neurotransmitter vesicle fusion?Answer: Voltage-gated Ca2+^{2+} channels open, allowing calcium to enter the terminal.
  2. What happens at an electrical synapse?Answer: Ions pass directly between connected cells.
  3. Why can the same neurotransmitter produce different postsynaptic effects in different cells?Answer: The response depends on receptor subtype and the cell's signaling machinery.
  4. How does an ionotropic receptor produce a cellular response?Answer: The bound neurotransmitter directly changes ion flow through a channel.
  5. How is acetylcholine cleared at the neuromuscular junction?Answer: Acetylcholinesterase breaks it down in the synaptic cleft.

Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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