CNS Physiology: Neuronal Electrical Signals Quiz

Electrical Properties of Neurons

• The electrical potential difference across the cell membrane is known as the membrane potential.
• The membrane potential allows communication over short and long distances in excitable cells.

Ion Channels

• Ion channels that respond to chemical stimuli, such as neurotransmitters and hormones, are classified as ligand-gated ion channels.
• Ion channels that respond to mechanical vibration or pressure stimuli are classified as mechanosensitive ion channels.

Resting Membrane Potential

• The resting membrane potential of a non-conducting neuron is typically around -70mV.

Concentration Gradients

• Concentration gradients in neurons are generated by the sodium-potassium pump.
• The sodium-potassium pump is responsible for maintaining the concentration gradients of sodium and potassium ions across the cell membrane.

Graded Potentials

• Graded potentials are confined to the local region of the neuron where they are generated.
• The magnitude of transient changes in membrane potential is determined by the strength of the stimulus.

Action Potentials (APs)

• The mechanism of action potentials (APs) involves a rapid change in the membrane potential, resulting in a brief (millisecond-scale) reversal of the membrane potential.
• Action potentials are generated by the rapid opening and closing of voltage-gated ion channels.

Myelination

• The function of myelination in neurons is to increase the propagation speed of action potentials.
• Myelination allows for saltatory conduction, where the action potential jumps from node to node, increasing the speed of transmission.

Propagation Speed

• The propagation speed of action potentials is affected by the distance between nodes of Ranvier.

Ion Channels and Membrane Potential

• Ion channels play a crucial role in generating large, rapid changes in membrane potential, enabling the transmission of action potentials.

Depolarization

• During depolarization in an action potential, the membrane potential becomes less negative, moving towards a more positive value.

Test your knowledge of CNS physiology and electrical signals in neurons with this quiz. Learn about the movement of ions across the lipid bilayer, neuron resting membrane potential, maintenance mechanisms, and generation/propagation of signals.