Introduction Flashcards
1
Q
How many prescriptions are CNS active
A
- 1/6
2
Q
Describe briefly what happens at a synapse
A
- depolarise presynaptic nerve terminal
- VG calcium channels open
- Calcium enters presynaptic cell
- Causes vesicles containing neurotransmitter to fuse with the membrane
- Release the neurotransmitter which bind and activate postsynaptic receptors- ligand gated ion channel
3
Q
What is a ligand gated ion channel
A
- Protein that is a pore
- Cation channel- sodium or potassium ions to permeate through the channel and into the cell
- Carry with them positive charge
4
Q
What are features of a nerve cell
A
- dendrites
- axon- myelinated
- cell body
- nerve terminals- synapse onto other nerve cells
- electrically stimulated- can lead to generation of action potential in cell body and causes release of neurotransmitter
5
Q
What happens at the dendrites
A
- information gathering parts of the cell
2. where other nerve cells synapse to it
6
Q
What are ionotropic receptors
A
- Also called ligand gated ion channels
- Ionotropic receptors are membrane-bound receptor proteins
- respond to ligand binding by opening an ion channel and allowing ions to flow into the cell, either increasing or decreasing the likelihood that an action potential will fire.
7
Q
Describe what happens with excitatory synapses of ionotropic receptors
A
- Transmitter depolarizes and excites
- Inward positive current e.g. Na+ ions move into cell
- Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
8
Q
Give 3 examples of excitatory neurotransmitters
A
- Glutamate
- Aspartate
- Acetylcholine (nicotinic)
9
Q
What is excitatory and inhibitory synapses
A
- Signals sent across excitatory synapses increase the activity of the receiving neuron
- signals sent across inhibitory synapses reduce neuron activity
10
Q
Describe what happens with inhibitory synapses of ionotropic receptors
A
- Transmitter hyperpolarizes and inhibits
- Inward negative current e.g. Cl- move in
- Inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
11
Q
Give 3 examples of inhibitory neurotransmitters
A
- GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid)
2. Glycine
12
Q
What are the 4 different types of synapse
A
- Axo-somatic- axon onto cell body
- Axo-dendritic- axon to dendrite
- Dendro-dendritic- dendrite to dendrite
- Axo-axonic- axon to axon
13
Q
What is the difference between temporal and spatial summation
A
- Spatial summation occurs when multiple presynaptic neurones together release enough neurotransmitter (e.g. acetylcholine) to exceed the threshold of the postsynaptic neurone.
- Temporal summation occurs when one presynaptic neurone releases neurotransmitter many times over a period of time.
14
Q
Why is the CNS so complex
A
- Neurones are highly complex structures
- Multiple synapses on each neurone
- Several different types of synapse
- Multiple transmitters
- Multiple receptors
- Multiple messenger systems
- Neurones interconnected in complex networks
15
Q
Why is Ca2+ a neurotransmitter
A
- Present in presynaptic neuron
- Ca2+ dependent release in response to presynaptic depolarisation
- Postsynaptic receptors present