6.8 - 6.13 Flashcards
The membrane potential of a postsynaptic neuron is ___ at an excitatory synapse, and it is ___ at an inhibitory synapse.
depolarized; hyperpolarized or stabilized
Synapses that consist of gap junctions which allow the local currents from action potentials in one neuron to flow directly across the junction to another neuron are called ___ synapses.
electrical
Chemical synapses ___.
- have a synaptic cleft between pre- and postsynaptic cells
- may contain more than one transmitter at a time
- use neurotransmitters released by the presynaptic cell to transmit signals to the postsynaptic cell
Identify the correct sequence of information in a chemical synapse.
Presynaptic terminal, synaptic cleft, postsynaptic membrane
Postsynaptic cell neurotransmitter receptors can be divided into two types: ___, which contain an ion channel in the structure, or ___, which are linked with second-messenger systems and indirectly alter ion channels
ionotropic; metabotropic
At an ___, the membrane potential of a postsynaptic neuron is brought closer to threshold (depolarized).
excitatory synapse
Electrical synapses ___.
- transmit signals faster than chemical synapses
- conduct an action potential directly between cells via connecting gap junctions
A synapse that transmits information via the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft between cells is termed a(n) ___ synapse.
chemical
Place the events of a chemical synapse in chronological order, starting with the first at the top.
- an action potential reches the presynaptic terminal
- voltage-gated Ca2+ channels open
- Ca+ diffuses into the presynaptic terminal
- NTs are released into the synaptic cleft
- NTs bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane
- NTs are removed from the synaptic cleft
Neurotransmitter receptors that act indirectly on separate ion channels through a G protein and/or a second messenger are referred to as ___.
metabotropic receptors
The membrane potential of a postsynaptic neuron is either driven farther from threshold (hyperpolarized) or stabilized at its resting potential at a(n) ___ synapse.
inhibitory
Recognize a figure of an electrical synapse
x
Removal of neurotransmitters from synapses occurs by which of the following mechanisms?
- Active transport into nearby cells, such as glial cells
- Active transport back into the presynaptic terminal
- Enzymatic transformation into inactive substances
- Diffusion away from the synapse
T/F: Whether a synapse is excitatory or inhibitory is determined by what neurotransmitter is released from the presynaptic cell.
F (determined by the type of postsynaptic ion channel)
An IPSP is ___.
a graded potential in a postsynaptic cell that decreases the likelihood that the cell will reach the threshold for an action potential
T/F: Many EPSPs occurring in a short period of time are generally required to initiate an action potential in a postsynaptic neuron.
T
Excess neurotransmitters are removed from the synaptic cleft in several ways. For example, they can be actively transported back into the presynaptic axon terminal for reuse, via a process called ___. Alternatively, they can be removed into nearby ___ cells where they are degraded. They could also ___ away from the receptor site.
reuptake
glia
diffuse
A synapse could be excitatory or inhibitory depending on ___.
the type of postsynaptic ion channel influenced by the signal transduction mechanism
At some chemical synapses, the potential change in the postsynaptic neuron is either a hyperpolarization or a stabilization of the membrane potential. This type of response is known as ___ ___ ___ (IPSP).
inhibitory postsynaptic potential
When neurotransmitters such as GABA or ACh are released from neuron A and bind to receptors embedded in the membrane of the axon terminal of neuron B, causing a decrease in the amount of an excitatory neurotransmitter released by neuron B, it is called ___.
presynaptic inhibition
Receptors found in postsynaptic densities of synapses that both bind to neurotransmitters and act as ion channels are known as ___.
ionotropic receptors
A depolarization of the membrane toward threshold occurs when ___ synaptic input predominates, and either hyperpolarization or stabilization occurs when ___ input predominates.
excitatory; inhibitory