Unit 1- Neural Communication

Unit 1- Neural Communication

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Poll

Which of the 3 types of neurons do you think are the most numerous?

• sensory neurons

• motor neurons

• interneurons

Anatomy of a Neuron

• Dendrites- grab messages

• Cell body- receives message, sends it along

• Axon- travel lane, electro-chemical mix

• Myelin sheath- insulating layer around axon

• Axon terminal- end of neuron, chemicals released to carry message along

Multiple Choice

Which is the first structure which grabs incoming messages?

• cell body

• dendrites

• myelin sheath

• axon

• terminal branch

Multiple Choice

The longest structure of the neuron would most likely be the longest?

• dendrites

• cell body

• axon

• nucleus

• terminal branch

Action & Resting Potential

• threshold- minimum amount of stimulation needed to fire a neuron- all or nothing

• Action Potential- a neuron sending a message- mixing of sodium ions generates charge allowing for message to travel

• Resting Potential- a neuron at rest, sodium ions are polarized

^{At the end of the line?}

• synapse- gap between neurons

• when message reaches terminal knob, neurotransmitters are released into the synapse

• the NTs fit like puzzle pieces

Chemical Structures

• Agonist- a chemical that is "close enough" in chemical structure that produces a similar effect

• Antagonist- a chemical that blocks a message from being passed along

Open Ended

Search for examples of real life agonist and antagonists, label as Ag and Ant. Try to stick to common terms, brand names or what the drug does instead of long, complicated names.

Multiple Choice

Opiate drugs occupy the same receptor sites as

• acetylcholine

• serotonin

• endorphins

• dopamine

• epinephrine

Multiple Choice

Botulin is a poison with a molecular structure so similar to acetylcholine (ACh) that it blocks the effects of ACh in synapses, making botulin which kind of molecule?

• agonist

• antagonist

• endorphin

• endocrine

• autonomic