One long dendron
to carry impulses
from receptor cells
to the cell body
Short axon that carries impulses
from the cell body to the CNS
Sensory Receptors
Act as transducers (they convert one form of energy into
another)
Resting Potential
Resting state, the inside of the cell is -ve so there is a p.d. across
the membrane. This is maintained by ion pumps and ion
channels
Generator Potential
Change due to a stimulus
Due to the cell membrane becoming excited
and more permeable, makes the inside of the
cell more +ve
The bigger the stimulus the bigger the generator potential
Action Potential
If the g.p. is big enough it'll trigger an a.p. (threshold level)
The Nervous Impulse
r.p. => -70mV
Sodium (3 x Na+) and Potassium (2 x K+)
Use active transport to move Na+ out for K+
into cell
Electrochemical Gradient
Potassium channels also
exist that allow K+ to move
out by facilitated diffusion
Action Potential
STIMULUS - Sodium channels open, neurone becomes less negative
DEPOLARISATION - p.d. reaches threshold (-55mV), voltage
gated channels open so more sodium ions move in.
REPOLARISATION - At +30mV, the sodium ion channels close and
the potassium channels open. Neurone becomes more negative.
HYPERPOLARISTION - Overshoot, P.d. becomes
more -ve than resting potentialn (less than -70mV)
R.P. - ion channels are reset
Refractory period - too negative
to become excited agian, makes
a time delay, also it means the
impulse can't travel backwards
Waves of Depolaristion
Mexican wave of sodium channels opening. The
impulse propagates along the neuron, movement of
action potential
All-or-nothing
The stimulus must reach the threshold to become
an active action potential
The bigger the stimulus the
more frequent the impulses
Speed of conduction
Saltatory conduction, caused by the impulse
jumping between nodes of Ranvier (between
myelin sheaths made of Schwann cells)
Faster if - big axon diameter or a higher
temperature (until 40 degrees as enzymes
will denature in the cells)
Synapses
Neurotransmitters are removed from the
synaptic cleft so the response doesn't keep
happening, they're taken back to the
pre-synaptic cleft, or they are broken down
Example: Cholinergenic Synapse
Neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine
1. ARRIVAL OF ACTION POTENTIAL
Arrives as impulse at the presynaptic knob, this stimulates voltage-gated calcium ion
channels. They diffuse in and are actively transported out.
2. FUSION OF VESICLES
Ca+ causes vesicles containing acetylcholine to fuse with the presynaptic membrane
3. DIFFUSION OF ACh
ACh diffuses across the cleft and binds to the specific cholinergic receptors on the postsynaptic
membrane. This causes sodium ion channels in the postsynaptic neurone to open, which causes
depolarisation. An action potential is generated if the threshold is reached.
ACh is removed by acetylcholinerase (AchE) and the products
are reabsorbed by the presynaptic neurone to make more ACh
Disruption of synaptic transmission
Same shape as neurotransmitters
Nicotine
AGONISTS
Block receptors
Muscle can't be stimulated, paralysis.
Inhibit breakdown enzyme
More neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft to
bind to receptors and they're there for longer
Loss of nerve control
Inhibit the release of neurotransmitters
Fewer receptors are activated
Block the calcium channels in the presynaptic
knob, meaning fewer vesicles fuse with the
membrane
Roles of synapses
Divergence
One neuron is connected to many neurones, therefore
information can be dispersed to different areas of the body
Convergence
Amplification
Spatial summation
Multiple synapses that together surpass the threshold potention
Temporal Summantion
Two or more nerve impulses arrive in quick
succession from the same presynaptic neuron
Unidirectional
The presense of a pre and postsynaptic neuron means
the impulse can only travel in one direction
Structure of the Nervous System
CNS
Peripheral NS
Somatic NS (conscious activities)
Autonomic NS (unconscious activities)
Sympathetic NS (fight or flight)
Parasympathetic NS (rest and digest)
Example: Heart Rate
High Blood Pressure
Impulses sent to m. oblongata which sends impulses along
PARASYMPATHETIC neurones. ACETYLCHOLINE binds to SAN
Heart rate decreases
Baroreceptors detect
Low Blood Pressure
Baroreceptors detect. Impulses sent to m. oblongata which sends
impulses along SYMPATHETIC neurones.NORADRENALINE binds to SAN
Heart rate increases
High Blood O2, Low CO2 or high blood pH
Chemoreceptors detect
Low Blood O2, High CO2 or high blood pH
Chemoreceptors detect
Adrenaline
When an organism is threatened, adrenaline is released, it binds to specific
receptors on the heart to increase contraction frequency and strength
Endocrine System
Hormonal Communication
Information via chemical signals (hormones) that are secreted by glands. Many
proteins are peptides e.g. insulin, however some are steriods, e.g. progesterone
Glands can be stimulated by a change in concentration of
a specific substance or by electical impulse
Diffuse directly in the blood, binds to specific receptors on target cells.
Tissues that contain a lot of target cells are kknown as target tissues
Glands
endocrine - secrete hormones directly into the blood
exocrine - secrete chemicals through ducts
Action of Hormones
Hormones are first messengers, from
the endocrine gland to the receptor
Catalyses the action of a second
messenger inside the cell
Second messengers activate a cascade inside the cell
Adrenaline
Adrenal Gland
Cortisol /Adrenalin
Release when there is low concentration of glucose in the blood, when stressed and when exercising
Activates glycogenolysis
(As a first messenger) Adrenaline binds to receptors on many cells like liver cells
It then activates an enzyme in the membrane that activates the second messenger called cAMP
cAMP activates a cascade (that makes glucose more available to the cell)
The Pancreas
Endocrine Function
Islets of Langerhan
Alpha cells
Glucagon
Binds receptors onto the cell
membranes of liver cells (to
release glycogen) and actives
glycogenolysis (breaks down
glycogen) and gluconeogenesis)
Beta cells
Insulin
Increases the permeability of cell membranes
to glucose and activates glycogenesis
Exocrine Function
Makes up most of the pancreas
Acinar cells
Secrete digestive enzymes into the pancreatic duct
Blood Concentration
Low
High
Homeostasis
The maintenance of a constant internal environment
Keeping your internal environment
roughly constant (within limits)
Temperature
As the rate of metabolic reactions increases (so does the
kinetic energy) the temperature's increases in turn
Too hot and enzymes will denature, to low and the
enzyme activity will be reduced/
Negative feedback
Involves receptors, a communication system and effectors
The receptors detect change and the
effectors counteract the change
Only works within certain limits, always in flux
Postive feedback
Amplifies the change
E.g. cervical dilation or platelets to form a clot
Temperature
Ectotherms
Relies on external temperature, also more active at higher temperature
Endotherms
Control body temperature using internal homeostasis
Constantly have a high metabolic rate
Can constantly be active at any temperature
Mechanisms
To reduce temperature
Sweating, hairs lie flat, vasodilation
To increase temperature
Shivering, hormones, much less sweat, hairs stand up, vasoconstriction
Uses the hypothalamus and thermoreceptors
Diabetes Mellitus
Insulin from GM bacteria
(rather than from a pigs pancreas) Cheaper, more produced,
human so less likely to trigger an allergic response or be
rejected, ethical reasons such as religion or vegetarianism.
Could possibly cure with differentiated stem cells
Communication
Receptors and Effectors
Responding to the Environment
To aid survival
make sure conditions are optimal for metabolism
Any change to the internal or external environment
(e.g. temperature, light intensity or pressure is called a
stimulus
Receptors are specific - e.g. pressure, light, glucose conc.
therefore there are many different types of receptor, some are
on the CSM and some are whole cells
Effectors are cells that bring
about a response to produce
an effect. These include
muscle or cells from in glands