OK, so this is the third time I've rewritten this so, I think that means that I am over thinking this. Let me start by saying that I am glad that we are starting with the Nervous System this semester, one, because the brain is the reason that I studied psychology and work with children, and two, because I was sick of memorizing bones and muscles. I know it's necessary, but memorization is more about regurgitation and less about absorption...if that makes sense.
So I think that the classes are going well. Dana's always good at keeping it fun and moving, but making sure that you understand the concept well. So in reviewing Post Synaptic Potential, I get that difference between temporal summation and spatial summation. Temporal summation is like a little squirt gun. It gives multiple short bursts of Na+ in a short amount of time that builds up enough to create an action potential. Where as spatial summation is like five little squirt guns all giving a burst of Na+ which is instantly enough to create an action potential. What I want to know is with the k+/Na+ pump always going, how much Ca+ is wasted in these interactions. If we have a built in regulator that requires 1/3 of the calories we need a day and we are flooding it just to regulate all the other things we have going on, isn't that counterproductive? Do we just recycle the left over? I don't know. The body is fascinating in that it has natural checks and balances...but is it necessarily efficient? See you all Tuesday! Aimee
1 comment:
Nice job, Aimee!The squirt gun analogy is really fun! The calcium levels in the extracellular fluid (you are exactly correct) play a crucial role and astrocytes have a significant role to play in maintaning the Ca++ microenvironment...scientists are just beginning to understand how these cells interact - stay tuned for the "rest of the story!"
Dana
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