Animal Nervous Systems: Neuron Function

Animal Nervous Systems

• Study chapter 43 or chapter 46 from the 5th edition

Neuron Structure and Function

• Identify the major regions of a typical neuron including the cell body (soma), dendrites, axon, axon initial segment, and axon terminal.
• Understand where information is received, integrated, and propagated in a neuron.
• Identify which regions of a neuron can fire action potentials and explain why this capability varies across different regions.

Membrane Potential

• Describe how the resting membrane potential of a cell is established.
• Key components include Na+/K+ ATPase, leak channels, and equilibrium potential.

Ion Movement Across Membranes

• Explain why Na⁺ and K+ move passively across neuronal cell membranes in specific directions based on concentration gradients, electrical gradients, and electrochemical gradients.

Action Potential Stages

• Describe the stages and characteristics of an action potential.
• The stages are threshold, rising phase, positive feedback, voltage-gated channels, inactivation, depolarization, repolarization, hyperpolarization, and refractory period.

Action Potential Regeneration

• Understand how an action potential regenerates as it spreads down the length of a neuron.

Ion Channels

• Compare and contrast voltage-gated ion channels and ligand-gated ion channels based on voltage, ligand, gating, and open vs. closed states.

Synaptic Communication

• Describe how a signal is communicated from one neuron to another at a synapse, including the roles of the synapse, vesicle, neurotransmitter, receptor, channel, IPSP, and EPSP.

Myelination

• Know how myelination alters the speed of conduction along the length of an axon.
• Key components include schwann cells, myelin, voltage, leakage, node of Ranvier, internode, ALS, and multiple sclerosis.

Neurotoxins

• Apply an understanding of channels and synapses to predict how neurotoxins might affect neural function.

Brain Regions

• Identify the functions of major regions of the vertebrate brain, including the cerebrum, cerebellum, diencephalon, brain stem, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, and occipital lobe.

Brain Injuries and Discoveries

• Describe how brain injuries to individuals like Phineas Gage, H.M. (Henry Gustav Molaison), and Paul Broca's patient advanced scientists' understanding of the functions of various brain regions.
• Key areas include lesion, amygdala, frontal cortex, and hippocampus.

Neuroplasticity

• Define neuroplasticity and provide examples of its involvement in learning and memory.
• Discuss its potential role in brain repair.

Nervous System Components

• Distinguish among the functional components of the nervous system, including afferent, efferent, somatic, autonomic, sympathetic, and parasympathetic components.

Explore animal nervous systems focusing on neuron structure and function. Understand ion movement, membrane potential, and action potential stages. Study chapter 43 or 46 from the 5th edition to deepen your knowledge.