PS263 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Sensory Neuron, Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential, Resting Potential
Document Summary
Start off with a sensory neuron with dendrites on the skin. Sensory neuron has a long axon that connects to a motor neuron. The connection between the 2 neurons is in the spinal cord. Add an interneuron (there"s 2 parts to the axon, one goes to the motor neuron, the other goes to an interneuron with an inhibitory synapse, making it less likely to fire) Protein channels are embedded in the membrane tunnels through the membranes. Some channels are specific only let through one thing can be open or closed. Inside and outside the cell are ions: If there is more sodium inside the cell then outside it"ll want to move inside. We"re reducing the positive charge in the cell. Membrane does not let most ions through. Cell as a whole is negatively charged by diffusion of k down an electrical gradient. K channels and pump restore resting voltage. When we go above the threshold sodium ions flood in.
