Download Human Anatomy and Physiology

Human Anatomy and Physiology
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Questions on Neuron Function and Neuron Communication, pp. 244 - 250
Neuron Function
1. Why does an undisturbed cell have a polarized cell membrane?
2. What is a potential difference?
3. Explain what is meant by a membrane, or transmembrane potential.
4. How many volts is the average car battery?
5. What is the resting potential of a neuron?
6. Explain why a neuron at rest is negative on the inside and positive outside. Give
all the reasons.
7. What maintains the membrane potential of a neuron? Address both electrical and
chemical passive forces (charge vs. concentration).
8. What is the purpose of the sodium-potassium pump and how does it work?
9. What are two ways that a stimulus will affect the membrane potential? Give
examples.
10. What is a depolarization of the membrane?
11. What is a hyperpolarization of the membrane?
12. What is a graded potential? What is the purpose of a graded potential?
13. What is an action potential?
14. Explain what is meant by threshold.
15. Explain what is meant by the all-or-none principle.
16. Where does an action potential begin?
17. List the steps involved in the generation of an action potential followed by the
return of a neuron to resting potential.
18. What is the refractory period? Remind you of anything? If so, what?
19. Explain the process of continuous action potential transmission known as
continuous propagation.
20. What is the difference between continuous and saltatory propagation? What
makes saltatory propagation of action potentials possible, and what’s the
advantage of it?
Neural Communication
1. What is another way of referring to action potentials?
2. What is a neurotransmitter and what is its function?
3. What is a neuroeffector junction?
4. Draw a diagram in which you label the synaptic knob, the synaptic cleft, and the
pre- and post-synaptic neurons. Show the synaptic vesicles and the mitochondria,
too, please.
5. If you do NOT need brushing up on the transmission of a nerve impulse from one
neuron to another neuron or an effector cell, you may skip this question.
Otherwise, read through pp. 249 - 250 and learn the steps. Then, write them all
out from memory. Then, check the steps to make sure you haven’t left any out.
6. What is meant by a neurotransmitter’s having excitatory or inhibitory effects?
Explain and use an example of a different neurotransmitter for each.