 1.

How does communication happen

within the body?
 Cells are the basic building blocks of all living
things.
 The human body is composed of trillions of
cells.
 They provide structure for the body, take in
nutrients from food, convert those nutrients
into energy, and carry out specialized
functions.
 Cells also contain the body’s hereditary
material and can make copies of themselves.
Sensory Neuron Interneuron Motor Neuron
 Neurons are surrounded by a cell membrane.
 Neurons have a nucleus that contains genes.
 Neurons contain cytoplasm, mitochondria
and other organelles.
 Neurons carry out basic cellular processes
such as protein synthesis and energy
production.
 Neurons have specialized extensions called
dendrites and axons. Dendrites bring
information to the cell body and axons take
information away from the cell body.
 Neurons communicate with each other
through an electrochemical process.
 Neurons contain some specialized structures
(for example, synapses) and chemicals (for
example, neurotransmitters).
2. What is the basic structure and
function of a neuron?

3. How do the different types of

neurons work together to send and
receive signals?
 Small, branchlike
projections of the cell make
connections to other cells
and allow the neuron to
talk with other cells or
perceive the environment.
 Dendrites can be located on
one or both ends of a cell.
 Provide a large surface area
for connecting with other
neurons.
 They carry nerve impulses
away from the cell body
 This main part has all
of the necessary
components of the
cell, such as the
nucleus (which
containsDNA),
endoplasmic reticulum
and ribosomes (for
building proteins) and
mitochondria (for
making energy). If the
cell body dies, the
neuron dies.
 This long, cable like projection
of the cell carries the
electrochemical message (nerve
impulse or action potential)
along the length of the cell.
 Depending upon the type of
neuron, axons can be covered
with a thin layer of myelin
sheath, like an insulated
electrical wire
 Myelinated neurons are typically
found in the peripheral nerves
(sensory and motor neurons),
while non-myelinated neurons
are found in the brain and spinal
cord.
 Myelin is made of special
cells called Schwann Cells
that forms an insulated
sheath, or wrapping
around the axon.
 Myelin is composed of 80%
lipid and 20% protein.
 Myelin Sheaths greatly
increase the speed of
impulse along an axon.
 Some myelinated axons
conduct impulses as rapid
as 200 meters per second
SMALL NODES or GAPS of un-insulated axonal
membrane called the Nodes of Ranvier are
between adjacent myelin sheath cells capable
of generating electrical activity
The Synapse is a
structure that
permits the
electrical impulse to
pass from one cell
to another cell by
way of chemicals
called
neurotransmitters.
 Multipolar neurons are so-named because they
have many processes that extend from the cell
body: Functionally, these neurons are either
motor or association (CNS).

 Unipolar neurons have but one process from

the cell body. However, that single, very short,
process splits into longer processes Unipolar
neurons are sensory neurons - conducting
impulses into the central nervous system.

 Bipolar neurons have two processes - one

axon & one dendrite. Also sensory, example,
neurons found in the retina of the eye.
Carries impulses from receptors
e.g pain receptors in skin to the
CNS( brain or spinal cord)
Carries impulses from sensory
nerves to motor nerves.
Carries impulses from CNS to effectors- e.g.
muscle to bring about movement or gland
to bring about secretion of hormone e.g.
ADH
• An action potential is part of the
process that occurs during the
firing of a neuron.
• During the action potential, part
of the neural membrane opens to
allow positively charged ions
inside the cell and negatively
charged ions out.
• This process causes a rapid
increase in the positive charge of
the nerve fiber. When the charge
reaches +40 mv, the impulse is
propagated down the nerve fiber.
• This electrical impulse is carried
down the nerve through a series
of action potentials.
• Established due to an
unequal distribution of ions
(charged atoms) on the two
sides of a nerve cell
membrane.
• Expressed as -70 mV, (the
minus means that the inside
of the neuron is slightly
negative relative to the
outside.
• Called a RESTING potential
because it occurs when a
membrane is not being
stimulated or conducting
impulses, (in it's resting
state).
• Passive Transport
• Movement of molecules with the
concentration gradient i.e., from high
to low concentration, in order to
maintain equilibrium in the cells.
• Active Transport
• Use of ATP (a form of energy) to pump
molecules against the concentration
gradient i.e., from low concentration
to high concentration.
• To transmit an impulse over a distance
without weakening requires the signal
to be re-amplified along the way.
• Takes a +charged ion and pushes it to
an area of even greater + charge
• Plus more Na+ outside the cell so
pushing against a Na+ concentration
gradient – to an area of more Na+
concentration
• Step 1- 3 cytoplasmic Na+ ions from inside bond
to the pump (or Protein)
• Step 2- ATP donates a phosphate group for
energy & changes shape of the protein
• Step 3- Through active transport, Na+ is expelled to
the outside.
 Na+ K+ Pump- Continued
• Step 4- 2 extracellular K+ bind to the pump,
releasing the phosphate
• Step 5- The pump resumes its original
shape.
• Step 6- K+ is released inside
Na+ K+ Pump- Active transport
• http://higheredbcs.wiley.com/legacy/college/bo
yer/0471661791/animations/membrane_transp
ort/membrane_transport.htm.
• http://teach.genetics.utah.edu/content/addictio
n/pompom.html.
• http://outreach.mcb.harvard.edu/animations/sy
naptic.swf
• https://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/0072495855/student_view0/chap
ter2/animation__how_the_sodium_potassium_pu
mp_works.html
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_H-
ONQFjpQ – Sodium Potassium Pump
• Writea paragraph
• Diagram and label 2
neurons passing a
message
• Create 5 trivia questions
4. How are electrical impulses created in the
human body?

5. How do neurons convey information using

both electrical and chemical signals?
• Reaction is voluntary while reflex is involuntary

• Reaction takes place through sensory nerves

that bring back message from the brain to the
motor nerve whereas sensory nerves bypass
brain and go up to CNS only in the case of
reflex.

• This is why reflex is faster than reaction.

• REFLEXES are very fast, and Most Reflexes Never Reach the Brain

• They are a rapid MOTOR RESPONSE to a STIMULUS because the

Sensory Neuron connected DIRECTLY with a MOTOR NEURON in
the Spinal Cord.

• Blinking to protect your eyes from danger is a reflex.

• Sneezing is another examples of Reflex.

• 31 PAIRS of spinal nerves originate in the spinal cord and

branch out to both sides of the body. Carrying messages to and
from the spinal cord.

• Within the spinal cord, motor and sensory neurons are

connected by INTERNEURONS
 Logger Pro-Human Physiology-14A Reflexes with
ACC
 Vernier EKG sensor w adhesive pads
 Vernier 25g Accelerometer
 Reflex hammer\rubber bands\ tape measure
 Alcohol pads
6. What factors impact our ability to react to a
stimulus?

7. How and why does reaction time differ in

reflex and voluntary actions?
• What is reaction time?

• Who can reaction time be important factor in

their lives?
 Can be Voluntary –Due to a thought and
directed by the Central Nervous system–
Reaction time test

 Can be Involuntary- generated by a reflex

◦ Papillary light reflex
◦ Jaw jerk reflex
◦ Corneal reflex
◦ Gag Reflex
◦ Knee Jerk reflex
◦ Achilles Reflex
◦ Rooting reflex of newborn
www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/1
9/technology/20090919-driving-
game.html. Driving –texting activity

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/reactio
n/reaction.html time to think -act,
think act, read think act, read think
negate act activity for logger pro.
 www.edheads.org/activities/brain_stimulatio
n/swf/index.htm.
 Divide into groups by your assigned case
study
 Research symptoms of your case study
 When you decide on diagnose Ck with your
teacher. If correct prepare presentation for
the class.
 Search : disorders of the nervous system
8. How do errors in communication impact
homeostasis in the human body?

9. How can biomedical professionals help treat,

cure and improve the quality of life of those
suffering from nervous system disorders?
 Provide background on your case
 List of the symptoms
 Discuss the areas of the brain affected and
the symptoms exhibited to help diagnose
your patient
 Describe the prognosis of the patient
 Describe what is life going to be like for this
person
 Discuss two biomedical professionals that
may be able to help this individual deal with
his/her disease
 Also include any information that is listed in
your Activity.
 Action Potential- A momentary reversal in electrical potential
across a plasma membrane (as of a nerve cell or muscle fiber)
that occurs when a cell has been activated by a stimulus.

 Axon- A long nerve cell process that usually conducts impulses

away from the cell body.

 Dendrite- Any of the usually branching protoplasmic processes

that conduct impulses toward the body of a neuron.

 Ion- An atom or group of atoms that carries a positive or

negative electric charge as a result of having lost or gained one
or more electrons.

 Myelin sheath- In a neuron, an insulating coat of cell membrane

from Schwann cells that is interrupted by nodes of Ranvier.

 Neurologist- A physician skilled in the diagnosis and treatment

of disease of the nervous system.
 Neuron- A nerve cell; the fundamental unit of the nervous
system, having structure and properties that allow it to conduct
signals by taking advantage of the electrical charge across its
cell membrane.

 Neurotransmitter- A substance (as norepinephrine or

acetylcholine) that transmits nerve impulses across a synapse.

 Reaction Time- The time elapsing between the beginning of the

application of a stimulus and the beginning of an organism's
reaction to it.

 Reflex- An automatic and often inborn response to a stimulus

that involves a nerve impulse passing inward from a receptor to
the spinal cord and thence outward to an effector (as a muscle or
gland) without reaching the level of consciousness and often
without passing to the brain.

 Synapse- The place at which a nervous impulse passes from one

neuron to another.
 Neurons use impulses to relay
messages from throughout the
body
 What other means do humans
have to provide
communication within in the
body