PS 386 - III

Neurons, potentials, and neurontransmitters

The Neuron

Wikimedia Commons
• Nucleus – contains the genetic info of the cell
• Axon – main “protruding element” – sends info to other
neurons; it’s specialized for conduction
• Dendrites – protrude from the cell body (or soma) and
they receive info from other neurons
• Axon terminals – (also called terminal buttons or
terminal boutons) are distal terminations of the
branches of an axon
• Myelin sheath – a covering on the axon of some
neurons that aids in the conduction of nerve impulses
– They conduct faster with the myelin sheath
• Node of Ranvier – interruption on the myelin sheath
that speeds up the conduction of nerve impulses
– Aids the myelin sheath
 Neuron

Plasma membrane

Society for Neuroscience, 2008

• Mitochondrion – provides energy for the cell by
converting sugar and oxygen into energy – providing
molecules
• Rough endoplasmic reticulum – contains ribosomes
which produce products to be secreted outside cell –
in neurons = neurotransmitters
• Axons lack ribosomes and rough endoplasmic
reticulum and must rely on the soma (cell body) for the
manufactured of proteins needed for their function
• Smooth endoplasmic reticulum – the source of
synaptic vesicles which package the chemical to be
secreted
• Golgi apparatus – connected system of membranes
that package molecules into vesicles
• Synaptic vesicles synthesize, store, and release the
neurotransmitter molecules that the neuron secretes
• Microtubules – “skeleton” of the cell; serve as avenues
of transport along which substances may travel from
the soma (the cell) to the axon or dendrites and vice
versa
slideplayer.com
 Neural Connections

• Neurons work in
circuits
• linked together
– convergently
– divergently
• linking sites are
called synapses
• chemical
neurotransmitters
carry messages
across the
synaptic gap -
Bloom, Nelson & Lazerson, 2001
 Nerve impulse

Bloom, Nelson & Lazerson, 2001

Reuptake Excitatory and Inhibitory
Synapses

Bloom, Nelson & Lazerson, 2001

Ionotropic & Metabotropic Receptors

Bloom, Nelson & Lazerson, 2001

More detail on receptor, G-protein, and postsynaptic response
Oligodendrocyte Schwann cell

Pinel and Barnes, 2018