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intro to neuroscience > Lecture 5 vocab > Flashcards

Lecture 5 vocab Flashcards

1
Q

What is a synapse?

A

It is the site of communication between neurons; can be electrical or chemical

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2
Q

What is the synaptic cleft?

A

It is the tiny space between the 2 neurons

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3
Q

What does the presynaptic do?

A

Sends neurons

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4
Q

What does the postsynaptic do?

A

transmits the signal away from the synapse

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5
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

They are chemical messages sent from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron

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6
Q

Neurotransmitters are released from where?

A

From the synaptic vesicles

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7
Q

What are neurotransmitters?

A

They are synthesized, transported into synaptic vesicles membrane enclosed structures that are very small(50nm diameter)

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8
Q

What causes a neuron to release synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters?

A

Depolarization

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9
Q

What does depolarization trigger?

A

Neurotransmitter release

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10
Q

What happens when the AP arrives at the axon terminal?

A

Depolarized terminal, opens voltage-gated calcium channels, and causes influx of calcium ions

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11
Q

What happens if calcium channels are open?

A

Calcium will flow into the cell, own its concentration gradient

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12
Q

What triggers vesicle release?

A

Calcium influx at the axon terminal

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13
Q

What binds and activates the protein synaptotagmin which triggers vesicle release?

A

Ca2+

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14
Q

What is exocytosis?

A

It is the process by which the membrane of synaptic vesicle fuses with the pre-synaptic membrane

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15
Q

What is exocytosis triggered by?

A

Synaptotagmin

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16
Q

What does the activation of synaptotagmin caused by calcium cause?

A

SNARE proteins which leads the synaptic vesicle and presynaptic cell membrane to come together for exocytosis and neurotransmitter release

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17
Q

What is endocytosis?

A

The emptied vesicle is closed, detached from the cell membrane, and recycled (refilled with neurotransmitter)

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18
Q

What are chemical synaptic transmissions?

A

They are the neurotransmitters released from the presynaptic neuron bind to specific receptors on the postsynaptic neurons membrane

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19
Q

What two potentials are graded potentials?

A

Excitatory(EPSP) and inhibitory(IPSP)

20
Q

What neurotransmitters bind to their receptors triggering postsynaptic responses?

A

EPSP and IPSP

21
Q

What is EPSP?

A

The postsynaptic neuron is depolarized and an AP becomes more likely (usually through opening of sodium channels)

22
Q

What is IPSP?

A

The postsynaptic neuron is hyperpolarized and an AP becomes less likely (usually through opening of chloride channels).

23
Q

What is synaptic integration?

A

EPSPs and IPSPs are summated at the axon hillock; if there is a significant enough difference in favor of EPSPs (if the voltage reaches ~ -40mV), the axon hillock will reach threshold and fire an AP.

24
Q

What are the classes of neurotransmitter receptors?

A

Ionotropic receptors(ligand-gated ion channels) and metabotropic receptors

25
What are Ionotropic receptors?
: ligand-gated ion channels. Neurotransmitter binds to receptor and channel opens.
26
What are metabotropic receptors?
Neurotransmitter binds to receptor, which triggers the activation of a G Protein, which can then open or close ion channels OR triggers secondary messengers for a variety of purposes.
27
What is a difference between metabotropic and ionotropic receptors?
Metabotropic signaling is slower than ionotropic, but allows for amplification of the signal via secondary processes.
28
What are the 4 criteria for identifying neurotransmitters?
Chemical mist be synthesized or present in neuron, when released chemical must produce response in target cell, same receptor action must e obtained when chemical is experimentally placed on target, there must be a mechanism for removal after chemical is done
29
What are the mechanisms for removing neurotransmitters from the synaptic cleft?
Neurotransmitters can be re-uptaken in to the axon terminal or uptaken by the glia, enzymes may inactivate neurotransmitters, or neurotransmitters can just diffuse out of the synaptic cleft
30
What is glutamate?
It is an amino acid that is the main excitatory transmitter in the CNS o Binds to several types of receptors o Has key roles in learning and memory o Can trigger increased influx of Na+ and Ca2+
31
What is GABA?
It is an amino acid that is usually inhibitory but not in early development and binds to both GABA a and b
32
What are some examples of Amines?
Dopamine, Serotonin, Epinephrine, achetylcholine etc.(Often modulatory actions
33
What is achetylcholine(ACh)
It is usually a excitatory neurotransmitter, in the PNS and often more modulatory in the CNS
34
What are Neuropeptides and what are some examples?
They are short amino acid chains, some examples include proteins, insulin, CCK, substance P, usually modulatory actions
35
What drug if used to much with schizophrenia or too little with Parkinson's can go wrong?
Dopamine
36
What is GABA a?
It is a GABA gated chloride channel receptor, goes into IPSP and hyperpolarizes the neuron
37
What is GABA b?
It is a metabotropic receptor that has G-proteins which ultimately open K+ channels
38
Where are neuropeptides released from?
Dense core vesicles(DCV)
39
Are dense core vesicles(DCV) or synaptic vesicles(SV)larger?
DCV is larger
40
What is DCV released upon?
Strong stimulation, not AP
41
What is the difference between neuropeptides and classical neurotransmitters?
Dense core vesicles are within neuropeptides and Synaptic vesicles are within neurotransmitters(GABA, Glutamate or ACh)
42
What is substance P?
It is a neuropeptide with 11 amino acids(a chain), it is involved in pain processing and modulatory actions
43
What are neuropeptides important regulators for?
Hunger, satiety, and energy balance
44
How do electrical synaptic communication occur?
Via gap junctions from a pore between 2 cells, they are bi direction(can go from both directions)
45
DO electrical synaptic communications have any delay?
Almost none due to gap junctions, no

intro to neuroscience (10 decks)

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