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Now that I finally have my atoms inside my body cells - long story to be ignored here - I can ask my question and sound halfway intelligent. When our cells send messages to each other and shift themselves to their desired locations (poetic language from Guy Murchie), do they use the electricity from activity between electrons and protons of the atomic nucleus to aid in their work?
Thank you, Matadora. I shall attend to them right now. I was amazed to find on the internet this morning how many of us had never made the connection between atoms and molecules/cells. As if "never the twain shall me.
Very interesting. Just one question, please. When it speaks of neurons and neurotransmitters, I think "brain". These would be messages going from the brain to the rest of the body? Am I right? Or are these also elsewhere in the body?
Also, are these particular signals electric? Electric impulses were mention in connection with them.
Very interesting. Just one question, please. When it speaks of neurons and neurotransmitters, I think "brain". These would be messages going from the brain to the rest of the body? Am I right? Or are these also elsewhere in the body?
Also, are these particular signals electric? Electric impulses were mention in connection with them.
Hi Hazel. Neurons are nerve cells and are components of the brain, the spinal cord and all the nerves in the body. The entire nervous system is composed of neurons which conduct electrical signals and allow your muscles to respond to commands from the brain, and allow you to feel sensation.
You might find this article on the nervous system by Khanacademy helpful.
Very interesting. Just one question, please. When it speaks of neurons and neurotransmitters, I think "brain".
Hi Hazel,
I will give a quick answer and will offer more later...I'm pressed for time.
All creatures and even plants have sensory receptors...once these receptors are stimulated by any stimulus, our nervous system sends a signal to our brain or spinal cord, then our nervous system sends this signal to target organs or innervates muscles to contract.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazel W
These would be messages going from the brain to the rest of the body? Am I right? Or are these also elsewhere in the body?
Our nervous systems are composed of the brain, spinal cord, sensory organs, and all of the nerves that connect these organs with the rest of the body. Together, this system is responsible for the control of the body and communication among its parts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazel W
Also, are these particular signals electric? Electric impulses were mention in connection with them.
Hi Hazel. Neurons are nerve cells and are components of the brain, the spinal cord and all the nerves in the body. The entire nervous system is composed of neurons which conduct electrical signals and allow your muscles to respond to commands from the brain, and allow you to feel sensation.
You might find this article on the nervous system by Khanacademy helpful.
Thank you, Mike. You are right. I read further last night and found that. So, although the cell messages are chemical, are the nerve stimulants starting them on their process? What I mean is this:
Guy Murchie says, about the nerve impulse: "Like lightning, the impulse in effect generates itself forming a transient wave of electrical excitation that advances the length of a nerve fiber .... that contains a low-resistance core of potassium ions ..... surrounded by sodium ions....The insulating membrane allows current to leak between the negatively-charged potassium ions (within) and the positively-charged sodium ions (without) ..... a moving wave that conveys its messages."
What I keep thinking is that something has to stimulant chemicals to start moving along. Maybe I am wrong. I shall read the Khan Academy article in a bit.
I will give a quick answer and will offer more later...I'm pressed for time.
All creatures and even plants have sensory receptors...once these receptors are stimulated by any stimulus, our nervous system sends a signal to our brain or spinal cord, then our nervous system sends this signal to target organs or innervates muscles to contract.
Our nervous systems are composed of the brain, spinal cord, sensory organs, and all of the nerves that connect these organs with the rest of the body. Together, this system is responsible for the control of the body and communication among its parts.
These signals are electrochemical.
Thank you for your time, Matadora. I will read Khan. Then I'll get back to the book tonight. The author does say he has more on the topic later in the book. I know the picture I am trying to form here. It just takes time and confirmation that I am seeing what I think I am seeing.
Thank you for your time, Matadora. I will read Khan. Then I'll get back to the book tonight. The author does say he has more on the topic later in the book.
My pleasure and sounds like you have a good plan. Biology is a very interesting subject, it's fascinating to learn about living systems and how they operate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazel W
I know the picture I am trying to form here. It just takes time and confirmation that I am seeing what I think I am seeing.
I a little confused here...what do you mean by the picture you are trying form?
My pleasure and sounds like you have a good plan. Biology is a very interesting subject, it's fascinating to learn about living systems and how they operate.
I a little confused here...what do you mean by the picture you are trying form?
I started out with a description of a cell. The author said the nucleus contains DNA. That was all. Suddenly I was wondering what happened to atoms and their nuclei containing neutrons, protons and electrons. Why was he only giving the cell's nucleus DNA and nothing else?
OK. I got that sorted out fine. The atoms are now inside the molecules where I knew they should be. Then, thinking about the molecules and cells with their messages, I wondered if the progress of messages was electrical. No, they are chemical. So, now I am asking does the electric stimulus talked about by Murchie (see my quote) stimulate the chemicals to be on their way with messages. I notice that neurotransmitters are chemicals. And that I did not know. So, that seems to make sense. But I may be wrong. I am asking myself "do the chemicals stimulate themselves to carry messages? Or are they stimulated by those electrical impulses?
In other words, I am trying to put together a picture that pulls what goes on in neurons and other cells. I am missing something. I know I am. I am probably also putting something in the wrong place. I'll think on it again tonight. If I am not making sense yet, just let it rest. I need to read more and do some more thinking.
One thing I know - and a friend agrees with me - people specialize down to the point that they are writing out one small item and never link it to anything to widen the picture for better understanding. Ex: Murchie's nucleus with DNA.
Thank you again. You have told me some things I didn't know and jogged my memory about some things I knew but had long since lost them in my mental files.
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