Nerve Physiology

Gian Carlo Delante, PhB PTRP RPT

Basic Types of Neurons

Parts of a Neuron
Dendrites
Cell Body (soma)
Axon hillock

Axon
Myelin sheath
Schwann cells

Nodes of Ranvier
Collaterals
Axon terminals

Glial Cells
AKA: Neuroglia
Support cells of the brain
Maintains delicate internal environment
of the CNS
Astrocytes: help CNS neurons form the
blood-brain barrier that protects the CNS
from harmful chemicals
Microglia: protects neurons from bacteria
Oligodendrocytes (CNS); Schwann cells
(PNS)

Sequence of Events at a
Chemical Synapse
1. Presynaptic neuronssynthesize neurotransmittersthat are
stored insynaptic vesicles.
2. An action potential in the presynaptic neuron depolarizes the
membrane and activates voltage-gated Ca++channels;Ca++(the
white molecules in the animation) flow into the axon terminal.
3. Ca++cause the synaptic vesicles to fuse to the wall of the synaptic
terminal, causing exocytosisand the release of neurotransmitter.
4. Neurotransmitter diffuses across the cleft and acts onchemical
receptorsfound on the postsynaptic cellmembrane.
5. Receptors cause the opening ofchemically gated ion channels.
6. The postsynaptic membrane potential changes, causing
adepolarizationor hyperpolarizationdepending on the type of
neurotransmitter. (A depolarization increases the probability of an
action potential on the postsynaptic neuron, while a
hyperpolarization decreases the likelihood)

Ion Channels
Voltage-gated Ion Channels
Allow ions to pass through in response to
changes in electrical membrane potential
Axon hillock, axon, axon terminals

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

Allow ions to pass through in response to the
binding of a chemical messenger (ligand)
such as a neurotransmitter
Dendrites, cell body

Ligands
AKA: Neurotransmitters
Excitatory
Influx of positive ions or efflux of negative ions
Membrane more positive

Glutamate
Acetylcholine (ACh)

Inhibitory
Influx of negative ions or efflux of positive ions
Membrane more negative

GABA
Glycine

Postsynaptic Potentials
(PSP)
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials
(EPSP)
Produced by excitatory neurotransmitters (ligands)
Diminishes as it travels along dendrite and cell
body
must bestrong enoughto spread all the way
from the synapse where it originated to the axon
hillock

Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials (IPSP)

Produced by inhibitory neurotransmitters (ligands)

Threshold Potential
The minimum potential of a membrane that
when reached can trigger an action potential
Achieved by the summation of excitatory
potentials (EPSPs) at the axon hillock
= -55mV
*Single action potential from presynaptic nerve at
NMJ = action potential at muscle
*Single action potential from presynaptic nerve at
chemical synapse = no action potential at
postsynaptic nerve

Action Potential versus

Synaptic Potential

Spatial and Temporal Summation of

Synaptic Potentials

Action Potential

Refractory Periods
Absolute Refractory Period
the interval during which a second
action potential absolutely cannot be
initiated, no matter how large a stimulus
is applied

Relative Refractory Period

the interval immediately following
during which initiation of a second
action potential isinhibitedbut not
impossible

Propagation of the Action Potential

Down an Unmyelinated Nerve
1. Where an action potential exists on the axon, the inside
of the membrane is positive (about +35 mV) with respect
to the outside because of the Na+that have entered the
cell.
2. This positive charge is attracted to and moves toward
an area of the membrane next to it that is at rest and has
a negative charge; this creates a local current (+).
3. Because of this buildup of the positive charge, the
adjacent area of the membrane now depolarizes.
4. This depolarization triggers voltage-gated Na +channels
to open.
5. Na+,rushes into the cell and depolarizes the region to
threshold, creating a new action potential.
6. By a repetition of this procedure, the action potential is

Propagation of the Action Potential Down a Myelinated

Nerve:
Saltatory Conduction

1. The positive charge from the existing action

potential is attracted to and moves toward the
adjacent node of Ranvier that is negative.
2. This node of Ranvier now depolarizes.
3. This depolarization triggers voltage-gated
Na+channels to open.
4. Na+rushes into the cell and depolarizes the
region to threshold, and a new action potential is
generated.
5. By a repetition of this procedure, the action
potential is propagated along the membrane.

All or Nothing Principle

of Action Potentials
if threshold is not reached, the
natural repolarizing forces of the
membrane will return the membrane
potential to normal (70 mV)
Once threshold is reached, you will
generate an action potential and this
action potential will be propagated
down the axon at its full height
without decreasing in size!

EPSP

What ions will move during an

EPSP?

IPSP

What ions will move during an

IPSP?

Battle of PSPs:
SYNAPTIC INTEGRATION

Review