How do Synapses control communication in the nervous system?

Question 1

What is the first way in which synapses control communication in the nervous system?

Answer 1

They ensure the one way flow of an action potential

Question 2

How do synapses ensure the one way flow of an action potential?

Answer 2

-Presynaptic membrane or bulb; vesicles/ACh/Voltage gated Ca2+ channels
-Postsynaptic membrane;AChE/nicotine ACh receptors

Question 3

What is the second way in which synapses control communication in the nervous system?

Answer 3

They can be excitatory or inhibitory

Question 4

Excitatory

Answer 4

Synapse releases a neurotransmitter that causes Na+ channels to open/ Na+ enters post-synaptic neuron so become more positive which increase the chances of an action potential

Question 5

Inhibitory

Answer 5

Synapse releases a neurotransmitter that cause Cl- channels to open/ Cl- enters postsynaptic neuron so becomes more negative which decreases the chance of an action potential

Question 6

What is the third way in which synapses control communication in the nervous system?

Answer 6

Allow summation

Question 7

What are the 2 types of summation?

Answer 7

-Temporal
-Spatial

Question 8

Temporal Summation

Answer 8

-Multiple nerve impulses from a single pre-synaptic neuron occur in succession
-increases the concentration of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft, increasing the likelihood of firing an action potential

Question 9

Spatial Summation

Answer 9

-Multiple pre-synaptic neurons connect to the same post-synaptic neuron.
-The combination of both inhibitory and excitatory neurons are ‘added together’ to determine if an action potential will fire

Question 10

What is synaptic convergence?

Answer 10

When several neurons go to one neuron

Question 11

What is synaptic divergence?

Answer 11

One neuron/stimulus leads to several neuron/responses