3.2 Chemical Events At The Synapse

Question 1

T.R. Elliott

Answer 1

A young British scientist, reported in 1905 that the hormone adrenaline closely mimics the effects of the sympathetic nervous system

Question 2

Otto Loewi

Answer 2

A German physiologist, concluded that nerves send messages by releasing chemicals by using fluid from the heart of a frog and transferring it to another frog’s heart

Question 3

Neurotransmitters

Answer 3

The chemicals that are released by one neuron at the synapse and that affect another

Question 4

Amino acids

Answer 4

Acids containing an amine group (NH2)

Question 5

Peptides

Answer 5

Chains of amino acids

Question 6

Polypeptide

Answer 6

A long chain of amino acids

Question 7

Protein

Answer 7

A still longer chain of amino acids

Question 8

Monoamines

Answer 8

Nonacidic neurotransmitters containing an amine group, formed by a metabolic change of certain amino acids

Question 9

An Amine group

Answer 9

(NH2)

Question 10

Purines

Answer 10

A category of chemicals including adenosine and several of its derivatives

Question 11

Nitric oxide

Answer 11

NO; A gas released by many small local neurons; it dilates the blood vessels to increase blood flow to the most active areas of the brain

Question 12

Catecholamines

Answer 12

Epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine; contain a catechol group and an amine group

Question 13

Vesicles

Answer 13

Tiny nearly spherical packets; where the presynaptic terminal stores high concentrations of neurotransmitter molecules

Question 14

Exocytosis

Answer 14

The process of excreting the neurotransmitter through its membrane and into the synaptic cleft between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons

Question 15

Dale’s principle

Answer 15

The incorrect generalization that each neuron released just one neurotransmitter

Question 16

ionotropic effects

Answer 16

The neurotransmitter attaches to a receptor on the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron, almost immediately opening the gate for some type of ion; Rapid, but short-lived

Question 17

Glutamate

Answer 17

The most abundant excitatory transmitter in the vertebrate brain

Question 18

GABA

Answer 18

Inhibitory

Question 19

Nicotinic synapses

Answer 19

They can be stimulated by the drug nicotine

Question 20

Ionotropic synapses

Answer 20

Useful for conveying information about visual and auditory stimulation, muscle movements, and other rapidly changing events

Question 21

Metabotropic effects

Answer 21

These effects take place by initiating a sequence of metabolic reactions that are slower and longer lasting than ionotropic effects

Question 22

G-protein

Answer 22

A protein coupled to guanosine triphosphate, an energy-storing molecule

Question 23

Second messenger

Answer 23

Carries a message to areas within the cell

Question 24

Neuromodulator

Answer 24

An intermediate between a neurotransmitter a hormone; they affect all those nearby cells that have receptors for them

Question 25

Acetylcholineterase

Answer 25

The enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine into two segments acetate and choline, after it has already activated a receptor

Question 26

Reuptake

Answer 26

The process of the presynaptic neuron taking up most of these neurotransmitter molecules intact and reusing them; occurs through special membrane proteins called transporters

Question 27

Transporters

Answer 27

Special membrane proteins that allow neurotransmitter molecules to be reuptaken

Question 28

The enzymes that convert catecholamine transmitters into inactive chemicals

Answer 28

Catechol-o-methyl-transferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase (MAO)

Question 29

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 29

A set of nerves that control the internal organs