Nervous System and Muscle Contractions

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the nervous system, muscle contractions, and physiological processes as outlined in the lecture notes.

What are the three general functions of the nervous system?

Collects information, processes information, initiates responses.

What causes delayed-onset muscle soreness?

Microscopic damage to muscle fibers during strenuous exercise, resulting in inflammation and discomfort.

How do neurons communicate with each other?

Through neurotransmitters released at synapses, affecting the postsynaptic neuron's membrane potential.

What are the different types of muscle contractions?

Isometric (force without shortening), concentric (force while shortening), and eccentric (force while lengthening).

What is fatigue in muscles caused by?

Factors like reduced excitability, slowed calcium release, cell swelling, and glycogen depletion.

What are the structural categories of neurons?

Unipolar (one projection), multipolar (multiple projections), and anaxonic (many dendrites, no axon).

What are the types of ion channels involved in synaptic transmission?

Ligand-gated ion channels, which open in response to neurotransmitter binding.

What happens during the action potential in the conductive segment?

Voltage-gated sodium channels open, leading to depolarization, followed by repolarization through potassium channels.

What is the role of myelin in nerve conduction?

Myelin increases the speed of action potential propagation through saltatory conduction.

What occurs at the transmissive segment of a neuron?

Release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft to influence the next neuron.