Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chemical Process
Sodium
-
electrons
protons
-
Chloride
Chlorine
-
+
+ +
+ +
+
+
+
-
Na+
+
+
+
+
- -
++
+
+ + ++ +
+
+
+
++
+
+ +
++
- Cl-
Membrane Potential
The inside of the cell has a negative
charge compared with the outside.
The membrane has a polarity.
This is maintained by pumping
positive charged ions (Na+) outside.
Extracellular -
A
+
A
-
A
-
+
+
A
A
+
Intracellular
A
+
A
-
A
+
-70
mV
Ion Channels
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
K+
Na+
Na+
Na+
K+
Na+
Na+
K+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Neurotransmi
tter
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
A
A
A
-
A
-
K+
K+
K+
A
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
K+
A
-
K+
A
-
K+
K+
A
A
-
K+
A
-
Na
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
K+
K+
Na+
K+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
K+
Na+
Na+
K+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
A
-
A
K+
K+
A
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
K+
A
-
Voltage
Threshold
Inside
-65 mV
-70
Resting
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
K+
Na+
Na+
Na+
K+
A
-
K+
Na+
K+
A
A
-
K+
Depolarization
Inside the
Axon
Node of Ranvier
Action Potential
Depolarization Na+
Repolarization Potassium K+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
K+
K+
K+
K+
Action Potential
Na+
Channels
close
+40
K+
Channels
open
K+ Channels
stay open
mV
Na+
Channels
open
Threshold
Potential -65
K+ Channels
Close
Resting -70
Potential
Time
Depolarization followed by
repolarization
Myelin
Inside the
Axon
Node of Ranvier
Action Potential
Action Potential
Depolarization
A stimulus causes a gate in the Na+
Channel to open. Since there is a high
concentration of Na+ outside, Na+
diffuses into the neuron. The electrical
potential changes to ~ +40 mV.
Repolarization
Depolarization causes the K+ Channel
gate to immediately open. K+ diffuses out
of the neuron. This reestablishes the
initial electrical potential of ~ -70 mV.
Sodium-Potassium Pump
K+
Na+
Na+
K+
K+
K+
K+
K+
Na+
Na+
Na+
K+
A
-
ATP
ADP
P
Na+
A
-
Na+
K+
K+
Na+
A
-
A
-
K+
Sodium-potassium pump
Synapse
Synapse
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Synaptic Cleft
Presynaptic
Postsynapti
Action potential
The depolarization at one spot
caused a depolarization at a spot
further down the axon.
Boom boom boom!
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters: Chemicals
produced by a neuron that are sent
across the synapse to affect a postsynaptic cell by binding to a receptor.
The neurotransmitter fits a receptor
like a specific key to a lock.
Synapse
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Synaptic Cleft
Presynaptic
Postsynapti
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
K+
Na+
Na+
Na+
K+
Na+
Na+
K+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Neurotransmi
tter
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
Na+
A
A
A
-
A
-
K+
K+
K+
A
-
A
-
A
-
A
-
K+
A
-
K+
A
-
K+
K+
A
A
-
K+
A
-
Na
Presynaptic
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Ca++
Synapse
Postsynaptic
Transporter
Neurotransmitters
Excitatory (Excitation): Increases
the likelihood of producing an action
potential on the post-synaptic cell.
Glutamate, dopamine, norepinephrine,
epinephrine
Psychopharmacology
antagonist
agonist