Synapses

Question 1

What is a synapse?

Answer 1

a junction between neurones

chemical transmission by neutransmitters e.g. acetylcholine

Question 2

What happens during synapses?

Answer 2

active potential arrives at pre-synoptic knob

voltage gated calciuum ion channels open and calcium ions diffuse in

vesicles full of neurotransmitter fuse with the pre-synoptic membrane

ACh diffuses across the synaptic cleft

ACh binds with receptor on post-synoptic membrane

some sodium ion channels open and sodium ions diffuse in

voltage gated sodium ion channels open

action ptoential is then triggered in the post-synaptic membrane

enzyme acetycholinesterase breaks down ACh and stops the response

products are reabsorbed into the pre-synoptic knob and recycled