Neuron Structure and Types of Neurons - MCAT Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

The axon ends in a terminal bud, which transmits signals to target cells by releasing neurotransmitters across the synapse. The soma is the body of the cell and contains the nucleus. This is where the majority of protein synthesis occurs. The dendrites receive electrochemical stimuli from other neurons and cells and transmit the signal to the soma and axon.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a component of the autonomic nervous system, which is a component of the peripheral nervous system. The ENS is responsible for innervating the digestive organs and, thus, regulating digestion.

The central nervous system is composed of the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system prolifertates the body. The somatic nervous system is under voluntary control, while the autonomic is involuntary. The cranial nerves are a set of specialized nerves that branch directly off of the spinal cord.

Na+/K+ ATPase always exports three sodium ions out of the cell and imports two potassium ions into the cell. The export of three positively charged sodium ions for the import of only two positively charged potassium ions results in a net -70mV charge across the cell membrane, which is known as the cell membrane resting potential.

All of the following are true characteristics of the neural axon and soma except “increased ribosomal activity in the axon hillock.” The axon hillock is a site of neurotransmitter transport. These molecules are produced and packaged in the soma of the neuron, before being translocated to the axon hillock via microtubule tracks. There is little to no ribosomal activity in the axon of a neuron, since most ribosomes are located near the nucleus of a cell, which is the site of mRNA release.

A dendrite carries electrical signals into the cell body of a neuron. This dendrite, however, is typically not myelinated like the axon. There are also frequently many dendrites, while a single axon is the typical rule. Different types of neural cells can carry different arrangements of dendrites depending on their function.

The axon hillock is located near the boundary of the cell body and the beginning of the axon. This region is where the totality of incoming nervous signals onto a single cell are summed, and only if this sum meets the threshold does the axon fire an action potential itself.

The sodium-potassium pump moves three sodium ions out of the cell for every two potassium ions it moves in. ATP is used to accomplish this because the direction of movement for both ions is against their concentration gradients.

By removing three sodium ions for the entry of every two potassium ions, the pump creates an electrical imbalance: three positive charges exit the cell, but only two enter. There is a net movement of positive charge out of the cell, leading to the electrochemical gradient. The ion imbalance leads to the negative resting potential of the cell.

The question states that the sodium-potassium pump requires ATP, indicating that the pumping action uses energy and is classified as active transport. Recall that active transport involves movement of molecules against their electrochemical gradient. This means that the sodium and potassium ions are moved against their gradients. Since they are moving against their gradients, sodium and potassium ions must move from a region of low concentration to a region of high concentration.

The question states that sodium ions are moving from the inside to the outside of the cell; therefore, there must be a higher concentration of sodium ions outside the cell than inside the cell.

Along with capillaries, the ependymal cells create the choroid plexus. The choroid plexus is responsible for synthesizing and secreting cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and the spinal cord.

The axon ends in a terminal bud, which transmits signals to target cells by releasing neurotransmitters across the synapse. The soma is the body of the cell and contains the nucleus. This is where the majority of protein synthesis occurs. The dendrites receive electrochemical stimuli from other neurons and cells and transmit the signal to the soma and axon.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a component of the autonomic nervous system, which is a component of the peripheral nervous system. The ENS is responsible for innervating the digestive organs and, thus, regulating digestion.

The central nervous system is composed of the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system prolifertates the body. The somatic nervous system is under voluntary control, while the autonomic is involuntary. The cranial nerves are a set of specialized nerves that branch directly off of the spinal cord.

Na+/K+ ATPase always exports three sodium ions out of the cell and imports two potassium ions into the cell. The export of three positively charged sodium ions for the import of only two positively charged potassium ions results in a net -70mV charge across the cell membrane, which is known as the cell membrane resting potential.

All of the following are true characteristics of the neural axon and soma except “increased ribosomal activity in the axon hillock.” The axon hillock is a site of neurotransmitter transport. These molecules are produced and packaged in the soma of the neuron, before being translocated to the axon hillock via microtubule tracks. There is little to no ribosomal activity in the axon of a neuron, since most ribosomes are located near the nucleus of a cell, which is the site of mRNA release.

A dendrite carries electrical signals into the cell body of a neuron. This dendrite, however, is typically not myelinated like the axon. There are also frequently many dendrites, while a single axon is the typical rule. Different types of neural cells can carry different arrangements of dendrites depending on their function.

The axon hillock is located near the boundary of the cell body and the beginning of the axon. This region is where the totality of incoming nervous signals onto a single cell are summed, and only if this sum meets the threshold does the axon fire an action potential itself.

The sodium-potassium pump moves three sodium ions out of the cell for every two potassium ions it moves in. ATP is used to accomplish this because the direction of movement for both ions is against their concentration gradients.

By removing three sodium ions for the entry of every two potassium ions, the pump creates an electrical imbalance: three positive charges exit the cell, but only two enter. There is a net movement of positive charge out of the cell, leading to the electrochemical gradient. The ion imbalance leads to the negative resting potential of the cell.

The question states that the sodium-potassium pump requires ATP, indicating that the pumping action uses energy and is classified as active transport. Recall that active transport involves movement of molecules against their electrochemical gradient. This means that the sodium and potassium ions are moved against their gradients. Since they are moving against their gradients, sodium and potassium ions must move from a region of low concentration to a region of high concentration.

The question states that sodium ions are moving from the inside to the outside of the cell; therefore, there must be a higher concentration of sodium ions outside the cell than inside the cell.

Along with capillaries, the ependymal cells create the choroid plexus. The choroid plexus is responsible for synthesizing and secreting cerebrospinal fluid around the brain and the spinal cord.

The axon ends in a terminal bud, which transmits signals to target cells by releasing neurotransmitters across the synapse. The soma is the body of the cell and contains the nucleus. This is where the majority of protein synthesis occurs. The dendrites receive electrochemical stimuli from other neurons and cells and transmit the signal to the soma and axon.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a component of the autonomic nervous system, which is a component of the peripheral nervous system. The ENS is responsible for innervating the digestive organs and, thus, regulating digestion.

The central nervous system is composed of the brain and spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system prolifertates the body. The somatic nervous system is under voluntary control, while the autonomic is involuntary. The cranial nerves are a set of specialized nerves that branch directly off of the spinal cord.