Neuron

Co-activation is seen in this experiment where the bicep, the flexor, resembles the agonist and the triceps, the extensors, resemble the antagonist. When the bicep muscle is active by being in its flexed position; its motor neurons are excited whereas the motor neurons in opposition of the triceps are somewhat inhibited. However, these triceps muscles still contribute to minor activities compared to that of the bicep muscles; but together they work in a co-activation fashion for contractile…

through sense organs, translates messages, process and respond to both internal and external stimuli (Saladin, 2012 p440). Nervous system uses chemical and electrical signal to communicate from neurons to another at high speed. More than 100 billion neurons found in the brain. Basic part of what make neurons are consist of dendrites which receives send messages, cell soma which is the cell body that process and translate code messages, and the axon where processed messages pass through to…

One important role of the basal ganglia is in the service of voluntary, routine smooth motor control, and to inhibit unnecessary movements in the muscles. The basal ganglia is important for other things as well, but in diseases which cause the loss of muscle control as in the case of Parkinson's, it stands to reason that we look more closely at the basal ganglia in respects to its role in movement. The basal ganglia uses Glutamate, and Acetylcholine, both are excitatory neurotransmitters, and…

starfish or jellyfish. The brain is located in the head. It receives messages from other organs. The brain is the most complex organ. In a human, the cerebral cortex has more than a billion neurons. Each of these neurons are connected by synapses. These synapses are connected to several thousand other neurons. Neurons communicate with one another by sending messages through long fibers called axons. These axons send messages by sending pulses out. The function of the brain is to have control…

disorder that affects the lower motor neuron in the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord and brain stem resulting in progressive weakness of the skeletal muscles [1]. It is considered as one of the most common autosomal recessive diseases and leading genetic cause of death during childhood [2]. The primary cause of SMA is mutation of the spinal motor neuron 1 (SMA1) while the severity of the disease is determined by the number of identical spinal motor neuron 2 (SMN2) [3, 4]. Kolb et al.…

Subplate neurons are one of the earliest formed neurons in the cerebral cortex and play a critical role in cortical development and maturation. Specifically, they receive information from the thalamus and project unto the developing cortical plate. The cortex is comprised of a six-layers and subplate neurons are found in the developing white matter below layer 6. During critical periods, these neurons are necessary for the arrangement and improvement of thalamocortical connections. Subplate…

membrane. A potential above a certain voltage will trigger the opening of these ion-conducting pores, releasing large stores of ions across the membrane. These voltage-gated ion channels allow for the generation of electrical stimuli (the firing of neurons via the action potential; Fig.1b###) that can travel long distances in the body, enabling functions such as heartbeat, sensation, muscle contraction, hormonal activity, fluid secretion, immune response and, of course, brain activity. Ion…

Multiple Sclerosis: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing Since the beginning of time, the human race has been plagued with disease; seemingly enough, some of those diseases are worse than others. To this day, multiple sclerosis is among the small list of diseases known to mankind that remains incurable. When trying to learn about multiple sclerosis (MS), it’s important to understand its history, the area of the body affected and how it’s affected, and how to cope with it. Multiple sclerosis is a central…

sensation. Sensory impulses move though the body by being stimulated by a receptor in the skin. It then travels to the sensory neurons and through the afferent fibers, were it will end up at the spinal cord as well as the brain. 2. The motor division of the nervous system are involved in skeletal muscle movement. Motor impulses move through efferent fibers. A motor unit is a motor neuron and all the connecting muscle fibers. 3. Muscle contraction is involved when standing up. The gluteus…

Drugs are chemicals that affect the brain by tapping into its communication system and interfering with the way neurons normally send, receive, and process information. Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, can activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a natural neurotransmitter. Drugs that enter the blood stream have faster and definitely more intense effects. The more directly the drug enters the bloodstream determines how fast and intense the drug will take effect.…