Physiology

Review: Neurophysiology Part 2

What do you need to know about chap. 46? The easy way
(Based on Guytons and personal extras)

Some of the majors types of sensory receptors, like: mechanoreceptors, thermo receptors, nocireceptors, electromagnetic, chemoreceptors. The labeled line principle: each of the types of sensations works on a specify modality, in other words each arrangement of nerve fiber works only for one modality of sensation (specificity). A common feature: all receptors after acquiring information from environment get an electrical response (receptor potential) These mechanisms are for example: mechanical deformation of the receptors area, chemical signaling, changes of temperature altering the permeability of the membrane, electromagnetic radiation. Maximum receptors potential amplitude: about 100mV at extremely high intensity. The more the receptor potential rise above the threshold level, the more becomes the action potential frequency. Pacinian corpuscle as an example: mechanical example, the action potential is given by compression of the unmyelinated area, then spread the neuron when it reach the first ranviers node. The receptors have the feature of adapting thyself after a period of time, slowing progressively the rate of potentials. Usually mechanoreceptors. We can find also: 1. Tonic receptors, slowly adapting due to continuous stimulus strength, e.g. Golgi tendon apparatus, pain receptors, baroceptors. 2. Phasic receptors, rapidly adapting, it means they need to read a rapid change, not a continuous event. E.g. Pacinian corpuscle. 3. Spatial summation: using more fibers involved in a contiguous area of sensation, they enhance the stimulus strength. 4. Temporal summation: increasing strength can be read by increasing the frequency of nerve fibers.

Instability and stability of Neuronal Circuits: Easy! It just states that without an appropriate control of the phenomena of reverberation the brain would enter in a circle of uncontrolled stimuli all around the system like how occurs in epileptic seizures. Inhibitory circuits that stabilize this process avoid it: Inhibitory feedback: it just close the circuit at the starting point, at the same pathway of the receptor Fatigue: it just means that signals become progressively weaker if the excitation is too long and too strong. Chapter 47, keywords and concepts, if needed Ill make a focused review A large pre-view of somatic senses: Proprioceptors: I. Large diameter, myelinated II. A, A Crude touch, pain, temperature: I. Small, unmyelinated II. Group 4 or Type C fibers Fine touch, vibration, pressure: I. Large, myelinated II. Group 2, or the rest of Type A A few Thermo receptors: A, C Somatic motor neurons (ventral horn): A A little helpful table

A little anatomy review: STRUCTURE Unencapsulated dendritic endings: free or naked nerve endings; abundant in epithelial tissue and connective tissue underlying epithelia. Encapsulated: Nerve fibers enclosed in capsule of connective tissue, widely shaped, sized, and found throughout the body. There are always interrelations in between the detection and transmission of tactile sensations, among touch, pressure and vibration. Cutaneous receptors: Tactile sensation (i.e. touch, pressure, vibration, itch, tickle) Thermal sensations (cold & warmth) Cutaneous receptors densely populate tip of tongue & lips, but few are found on back of neck Dendrites of cutaneous receptors may or may not be enclosed in capsule of epithelial or connective tissue Nerve impulses of cutaneous receptors are transmitted along somatic afferent neuron in spinal cord or cranial nerves thru thalamus to somatosensory are of parietal lobe of cerebral cortex For touch and pressure: 1. Free nerve endings: common in epithelial tissue 2. Meissners Corpuscles: encapsulated nerve fibers - Numerous in hairs less portions of skin that are very sensitive to light touch, (lips, palms, soles) (+low frequency vibration) 3. Pacinian Corpuscles - encapsulated nerve fibers; stimulated by heavy pressure (Vibration detection) - Located deeper in subcutaneous tissues, tendons, ligaments The rest of this chapter is boring like hell so I will not get deep on this.. Review it on the table I posted on the group if you wanna go further Hope Ill make another document for the other chapters !!! Your beloved colleague, Alessandro Motta.