- Neuron function
- Action Potentials (AP) are fixed in amplitude
- An AP sweeps along the axon membrane at a constant velocity
- Sequential depolarization / repolarization causes AP to move continuously down the axon
- Neurons are cells that transmit information
- They are composed of the cell body, dendrites (conduct message towards cell body), Axon (conduct message away from cell body)
- Synapse Structure
- Includes: tips of terminal branches of axons, tiny space between nuerons, and ends of dendrites receiving neurons
- action potential reaches axon terminal
- AP causes synaptic vesicles to release NT into synaptic gap
- NT diffuses through gap and bind to receptors on receiving neuron
- Neurotransmitters are used to carry the signal from the axon terminal of the sending neurons to the dendrite of the receiving neuron