TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. TABLE OF CONTENTS
• 2. TABLE OF FIGURES
• 3. INTRODUCTION
• 4. THE NEURON
• 4.1 THE BASIC NEURON
• 4.1.1 The Cell Body
• 4.1.2 The Dendrites
• 4.1.3 The Axon
• 4.1.4 The Axon Hillock
• 4.1.5 The Synapse
• 4.1.6 Two Types Of Neuron
• 4.2 ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY IN NEURONS
• 4.2.1 Differences between generator potentials and action potentials (source <1>).
• 4.2.2 Membranes and Membrane Channels
• 4.2.3 Action Potentials
• 4.2.4 Synaptic Potentials
• 4.3 CHEMICAL ACTIVITY IN NEURONS
• 4.3.1 Synaptic Transmission Chemistry - Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
• 4.3.2 Receptor potentials
• 4.3.2.1 Mechanoreceptors
• 4.3.2.2 Photoreceptors
• 4.3.2.3 Adaption
• 5. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
• 5.1 BEHAVIOUR
• 5.2 INVERTEBRATE NERVOUS SYSTEMS
• 5.2.1 Behaviour Mechanisms
• 5.2.2 Rhythmic Motor Behaviour - Example Of Cell and Circuit Control
• 5.2.2.1 The Heart of The Leech
• 5.2.3 Neural Circuit Modulation
• 5.2.4 Memory and Learning
• 5.3 VERTEBRATE NERVOUS SYSTEMS
• 5.3.1 The Central Nervous System
• 5.3.1.1 The Brain
• 5.3.1.1.1 Medulla and Pons
• 5.3.1.1.2 Hypothalamus
• 5.3.1.1.3 Cerebellum
• 5.3.1.1.4 Thalamus
• 5.3.1.1.5 Basal Ganglia
• 5.3.1.1.6 Cerebral Cortex
• 5.3.2 The Development of The Nervous System
• 6. CONCLUSION
• 7. BIBLIOGRAPHY

TABLE OF FIGURES

• FIGURE 1 - THE PYRAMIDAL CELL A COMMON NEURON - SOURCE(2)
• FIGURE 2 - ELECTRICAL EXCHANGES IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM - SOURCE(1)
• FIGURE 3 - VOLTAGE CHANGES INVOLVED IN AN ACTION POTENTIAL
• FIGURE 4 - FAST-ADAPTING RECEPTOR BEHAVIOUR
• FIGURE 5 - MEDIUM-ADAPTING RECEPTOR BEHAVIOUR
• FIGURE 6 - SLOW-ADAPTING RECEPTOR BEHAVIOUR
• FIGURE 7 - THE FUNCTION OF A CPG - SOURCE(1)
• FIGURE 8 - THE HEART OF THE LEECH - SOURCE(1)
• FIGURE 9 - THE CIRCUITRY OF THE FIRST FOUR HEART INTERNEURONS - SOURCE(1)
• FIGURE 10 - THE INHIBITORY CYCLE OF HN(1-4) - SOURCE(1)
• FIGURE 11 - NEURONAL INTERACTION INVOLVED IN MEMORY AND LEARNING
• FIGURE 12 - A DIAGRAMMATIC VIEW OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
• FIGURE 13 - THE BRAIN - SOURCE <1>
• FIGURE 14 - STRUCTURES AND PATHWAYS IN THE VERTEBRATE BRAIN

INTRODUCTION

The function of glial cells (neuroglia) is not fully understood, but is thought to be a supporting function to the neuron. They do not appear to be involved directly in information processing. They are more numerous than neurons and fill up the space between them, providing a structural framework for neurons, especially during brain development.

The neuron has been studied in far more depth and most of the rest of this paper will consider these cells and how they are combined into the nervous system.

All images  used on these pages are available via this link (and then some).

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