Download The Neuron

The parts and functions

Have you ever played the game telephone?
 Ideally what would be the outcome?
 What are the components involved in the game?

Is this similar to neuron communitcation


Review of readings
Organizer
 Recap of thoughts

Lecture
 Motor Neurons
 Sensory Neurons
 Action Potential
▪ 3 phases
▪ All or none


Group Activity
Homework assigment
 Key terms:
▪
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Axon
Axon Terminals
Dendrite
Soma/Cell Body
Nucleus
Synapse
Myelin Sheath
Building blocks of the
brain
• 100 billion neurons
• 30,000 on a pinhead
• Neurons are the
building blocks of
your brain. They
communicate with
each other thousands
of times a second.
•
Neurons
• Many types and
shapes
• Webs of connections
make the brain work
• The connections
among the neurons in
all the different brain
parts is what makes
your brain work.

Dendrites:
receive messages
 The dendrites
receive
messages from
other neurons.
Soma: body of
the cell
 Dendrites:
receive messages
 Axon: sends
messages



Soma: body of the cell
The cell body, or
soma, is a neuron's
main cellular space.
The soma houses the
nucleus, in which the
neuron's main genetic
information can be
found.
 Axon: sends
messages
 The axon
sends
messages to
other
neurons.
Myelin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF04XPBj
5uc

When a nerve impulse arrives at the end
of an axon, neurotransmitters are
released, diffusing across a tiny gap to the
next neuron. Here they bind to receptors proteins on the surface of the cell - as a
key fits into a lock. On delivery of their
'messages' these chemical couriers are
destroyed or reabsorbed by the nerve
endings in which they were produced.

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The principle that if a neuron fires it will
always fire at the same intensity
All action potentials are of the same
strength.
A neuron does NOT fire at 30%, 45% or
90% but at 100% each time it fires.

What neurotransmitters do
Neurotransmitters are central to memory,
learning, mood, behavior, sleep, pain
perception and sexual urge. They operate at
the junctions between neurons, allowing
communication between cells.

In groups, quickly decide
who will be responsible
for the following:
▪ Drawing
▪ Labeling
▪ Explaining

Keep in mind that you
will be in the same
groups on Monday and
will have to be
responsible for a
different task

Directions:
 On a piece of poster board
draw a neuron complete
with a synapse
 After the drawing is
complete label the parts,
functions, and direction of
travel for an action
potential
 Once the drawing is
complete please explain it
to Ms. Roethler or Mr.
Neuzil

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Please read the articles provided in their
entirety
On the sheet provided, please in a short
paragraph explain the function and role of
your specifically assigned neurotransmitter
This is due Monday October 26 at the
beginning of class