Download Chapter 48 – Nervous System – Homework – Part I

Chapter 48 – Neurons, Synapses and Signaling – Homework
1. Describe the basic pathway of information flow through neurons that cause you to turn
your head when you hear the sound of your name being called.
2. Compare and contrast sensory neurons, interneurons, and motor neurons
3. Compare and contrast dendrites and axons.
4. Discuss how the following relate to each other: presynaptic cell, postsynaptic cell,
synapse, neurotransmitter.
5. Describe the “resting potential” of a typical nontransmitting neuron, what
value does it have in mV, and how is it created and maintained?
6. Describe how a nerve signal is transmitted down a typical neuron. Include the
following in your description: hyperpolarization, depolarization, threshold, and
refractory period.
7. Describe how the nodes of Ranvier speed up transmission of a nerve signal.
8. In the disease multiple sclerosis, myelin sheaths gradually harden and deteriorate.
Discuss how this affects nervous system function.
9. The transmission of the nerve signal across a synapse uses concepts encountered in
earlier parts of the course. Describe and explain how “diffusion”, “receptors” and
“cAMP” are involved at the synapse.
10. Neurotransmitters include several different chemicals. Identify four
neurotransmitters and describe if they are excitatory (2 examples) or inhibitory
(2 examples).
11. Discuss how nerve signaling is similar to the general events of “cell signaling”
studied in Chapters 11 and 45.