Neuronal Physiology

How does a neuron work:

A signal in a neuron travels ____ along a cell process all the way to its target cell. When the signal arrives at the end of the neuron process it causes the release of a ____ substance (a neurotransmitter) that binds (noncovalently) to specific receptor molecules on the target cell, activating a response

can be likened to a computer network or the lines of an electrical grid. It is a cell that is specially adapted to generate an electrical signal – often in a brief, self-propagating impulse called an action potential – that travels from place to place in the cell.

Dendrite function

• Input

• Integration

• Conduction

• Output

Parts of neuron

• Dendrite

• Cell Body

• Axon

• Presynaptic Terminals

Cell Body function

• Input

• Integration

• Conduction

• Output

Axon function

• Input

• Integration

• Conduction

• Output

Presynaptic Terminal function

• Input

• Integration

• Conduction

• Output

These are branching processes that receives input (signals from other neurons or sensory cells) at synapses, which are specialized cellcell contact points.

• Dendrite

• Cell Body

• Axon

• Presynaptic Terminals

• Synapse

Impulses arriving at a synapse from a presynaptic cell causes the release of a chemical called a ___ into the synaptic cleft (the space between the cells). Specific physiological effects are triggered on the postsynaptic cells. This may result in a new electrical impulse in the target neuron

Allows for transmission of information between neurons via a conversion of a signal from electrical to chemical to electrical

• Dendrite

• Cell Body

• Axon

• Presynaptic Terminals

• Synapse