PSC 101 Study Guide - Spring 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Action Potential, Neuron, Ion
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
PSC 101
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
• Neurons and glia make up the brain
• Neurons communicate information
• Resting membrane potential: maintain homeostasis
• 3 structural elements unique to neurons
o Axon
o Dendrite
o Synapse
•
• Structure of Neurons
o Soma: cell body of a neuron, which contains the nucleus and protein synthesizing
machinery for the rest of the cell
o Dendrites: "tree" branches off the soma; receive info from the terminal buttons of other
neurons
o Axon: extends from cell body; conveys info in the form of electrical potentials from
soma to the terminal buttons
o Terminal button: bud at the end of the branch of an axon; sends info to other neurons
• Neurons are classified by 3 general shapes depending on how many axons/dendrites leave the
nucleus
o Multipolar neurons: 1 axon, many dendrites (most common type)
o Bipolar neurons: 1 axon, 1 dendrite
o Unipolar neurons: single extension branches in 2 directions forming an input zone and
an output zone
• [Insert picture of the shapes of neurons]
• Zones of neurons
o Input zone: where neurons collect and integrate info either from the environment or
other cells
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
o Integration zone: where the decision to produce a neural signal is made
o Conducting zone: where info can be transmitted over great distances
o Output zone: where the neuron transfers info to other cells
• Clicker: most of the neurons are multipolar
•
• Neurons aren't alone
• Glial cells ("support cells"): have important effects on neural transmission; originally thought
to just hold together nerve cells like glue
• 4 types of glial cells [insert pics of each one]
o Astrocytes (star cells)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
