UNIT III LEECH LAB

For this lab I did a virtual lab where I dissected a leech and obtained a neuron for study.  After obtaining the specimen it was placed on an micromanipulator and an glass microelectrode was probed into the neuron for stimuli.  There were also three different stimulus; a feather, probe and forceps.  I took a screen shot of those three stimulus, which you can see below.

QUESTIONS ABOUT LEECH NEUROPHYSIOLOGY LAB

1.  WHAT IS THE ELECTRODE MEASURING?  The electrode is measuring the  activity (voltage) of individual neurons and the sound.

2.  WHY USE LEECHES IN NEUROPHYSIOLOGY EXPERIEMENTS?    Leeches are the best specimens because they have a small amount of neurons, BUT they are very large in size. 

3.  WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SENSORY AND A MOTOR NEURON?    Sensory neurons transmits nerve impulses TOWARD the central nervous system and motor neurons transmits impulses AWAY from the central nervous system and towards a effector organ such as muscles and glands.

4.  DO YOU THINK A LEECH EXPERIENCES PAIN?  WHAT IS PAIN?  I don't think the leech experienced pain because it was anesthetized prior to being cut up.  Pain is a sensation that is transmitted with sensory and motor neurons.  It is just like the reflex arc in which someone stuck by a pin on their hand; they will pull their hand away.

5.  WHAT WERE THE TWO MOST INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT DOING THIS LAB?   I think it would have been even more interesting if I were doing it in reality, but the whole lab was interesting.  I particularly liked how you could hear the sounds of the neuron and watching the screen to see have different stimulus affected the neuron.

6.  ANYTHING YOU FOUND CONFUSING OR DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT THE LAB?   No, I didn't find anything confusing about the lab.  I think the directions were straight forward.

HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE THE NEURON BEING STUCK WITH THE GLASS MICROELECTRODE.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE NEURON WITH THE DYE INJECTION AND THE UV LIGHT TO SHOW THE NEURON.