1 Multiple things take place on a chemical level during resting and action potential of a neuron When a neuron is at rest the inside of the neuron is negative in relation to the outside Potassium ions can cross the membrane easily when a neuron is at resting potential but sodium ions have a harder time crossing the membrane Action potential happens when different ions cross the neuron membrane A stimulus occurs that causes the sodium channels to open and they rush into the neuron The potassium channels open and rush out of the cell and reverse the depolarization caused by sodium rushing into the cell The pump then uses energy to allow the ion to return to their place causing action potential to end 2 Neuron Diagram Axon the axon carries the cell s impulse to the axon terminal Axon Hillock It joins the soma and axon to collect impulses before sending an impulse down the cell Dendrites receive impulses from other nerve cells Schwann Cells Myelin Sheath surrounds some of the neurons to increase how efficiently it can carry an impulse Soma contains the genetic instructions for the function of the cell Terminal spreads the cell s impulse out to reach other neurons Terminal Buttons links up to the dendrites of the next neuron in the chain 3 The neurotransmitters then move across the gap to the second neuron where they bind to special molecules called receptors one for each kind of neurotransmitter All this happens with incredible precision and is repeated again and again as the signal is passed at split second speed from neuron to neuron Vesicles travel to the end of the neuron where they wait to be released When it is time for the neuron to release neurotransmitters the vesicles fuse with the membrane of the neuron and dump their contents into the synapse gap After neurotransmitter release the neuron recycles the empty vesicles refilling and reusing them several more times before they need to be replaced 4 5 Acronyms Any amygdala Cute cerebellum eel each of the 4 lobes Has hippocampus High hypothalamus Mental medulla processing pituitary gland power pons for retaining reticular Formation Thoughts Thalamus
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