22/04/2021 OneNote
Neural conduction & Synaptic Transmission
28 February 2021 08:12
Neuron's Resting Membrane Potential
• Membrane potential is the difference in electrical charge between the inside and outside
of a cell.
• The resting potential is the potential inside a resting neuron. That is, the difference
between the charges in the intracellular and the extracellular fluids. The resting potential is
-70mV. This means that the potential inside the resting neuron is 70mV less than that
outside the neuron.
• In its resting state, a neuron is said to be polarised.
• The reason why it is polarised is because the ratio of negative ions to positive charges is
greater inside the neuron than outside.
• The interaction of 4 factors can help understand the uneven distribution.
○ Two forces that act to distribute ions equally throughout the intracellular and
extracellular fluids of the nervous system,
○ Two features of the neural membrane that counteract these homogenising forces.
• Four kinds of ions contribute significantly to the resting potential: sodium ions (Na+),
potassium ions (K+), chloride ions (Cl-) and various negatively charged protein ions.
• The concentration of Na+ and Cl- are greater outside the resting neuron than inside it while
K+ are more concentrated inside the resting neuron.
• The negatively charged protein neurons are synthesised inside the neuron and mostly stay
there
• Sodium and potassium transport is performed by the sodium-potassium pumps which
continually exchange 3 Na+ ions inside the neuron for 2 K+ ions outside the neuron.
• When neurons fire, they release neurotransmitters which bind to the postsynaptic
receptors of the of the receptive neuron and typically have one of two effects:
○ They depolarize the receptive membrane (decrease the resting potential). This is
known as excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP) and increases the likelihood of
the receptive neuron firing.
○ They hyperpolarize the receptive membrane (increase the resting potential). This is
called inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSP). This decrease the likelihood of the
neuron firing.
• Both EPSPs and IPSPs are graded responses, i.e. their amplitudes are proportional to the
intensity of the signal that elicit them.
• EPSPs and IPSPs travel passively and this transmission has two characteristics:
○ It is rapid,
○ It is decremental
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Two homogenising forces include:
1. Random motion: Ions in a neural tissue are always in random motion
and particles in random motion tend to be distributed evenly becaus
they are more likely to move down their concentration gradients tha
up, i.e. from a higher concentration region to a lower concentration
region
2. Electrostatic pressure: Like charges in an area tend to repel while un
charges attract
Two features that contribute to the uneven distribution of the ions in a
resting membrane
1. Passive transport: Does not require energy. The passive property tha
contributes to the uneven distribution is the neural membrane's
differential permeability to Na+, K+, Cl- and protein ions.
○ In resting neurons, K+ and Cl- pass through the neural membra
readily while Na+ pass through with difficulty. The protein ions
not pass through at all.
○ Ions pass through the neural membrane at specialised pores
called ion channels (each specialised for passage of particular
ions).
2. Active transport: involves the consumption of energy e.g sodium-
potassium pumps.
Action Potential
• The firing of a neuron is dependent on the balance between the
excitatory and inhibitory signals reaching its axon hillock (the structu
between the cell body and the axon).
• If the sum of the IPSP and EPSP reaching the axon hillock at any time
enough to depolarize the membrane to a level called the threshold o
excitation (about -65mV), an action potential is generated at the axo
hillock.
• The action potential is a massive momentary reversal of the resting
potential from about -70mv to about +50mV.
• Action potentials are note graded responses; they are all-or-none
responses.
• Action potentials are produced through the action of voltage-activat
ion channels. - they open and close in response to changes in the
voltage of the membrane potential.
• Absolute refractory period is a brief period (about 1 to 2 millisecond
after the initiation of an action potential during which it is impossibl
to elicit a second one.
• Relative refractory period is the period after the absolute refractory
period during which it is possible to generate another action potenti
but only by applying higher-than-normal level of stimulation.
• Conduction of action potential:
○ Is nondecremental
○ Is conducted more slowly than postsynaptic potentials.
Because the conduction is largely active.
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