chapter 11 pt. 2

Question 1

synapse?

Answer 1

junctions that mediate information transfer

Question 2

chemical synapse ?

Answer 2

contains synaptic vesicles filled with neurotransmitters
receptor region on post synaptic neurons membrane

Question 3

electrical synapse?

Answer 3

neurons are electrically coupled.
joined by gap junctions connect cytoplasm of adjacent nerves

Question 4

Describe the sequence of events that occur during synaptic transmission at a chemical synapse

Answer 4

AP arrives at the presynaptic neuron its depolarized –> Ca2+ ions diffuse into the terminal button of the pre-synaptic neuron –> vesicles containing the neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) move towards the plasma membrane of the pre-synaptic neuron and fuse with it –> release the neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft –> neurotransmitter binds to the receptors causing Na+ ions to diffuse

Question 5

What happens to the neurotransmitter that is leftover in the synaptic cleft?

Answer 5

fade away through diffusion or reabsorbed through reuptake

Question 6

Describe a postsynaptic potential

Answer 6

excitatory (epsp) = causing AP to be generated
inhibitory (ipsp) = reduces postsynaptic neurons ability to produce AP

Question 7

temporal summation

Answer 7

one or more presynaptic neurons transmit impulses in rapid fire order

Question 8

spatial summation

Answer 8

postsynaptic neuron is stimulated by large number of terminals simultaneously