synapses

Question 1

What happens when an action potential arrives at the pre-synaptic membrane?

Answer 1

The membrane becomes depolarized, and calcium ion (Ca²⁺) channels open, allowing calcium ions to enter.

Question 2

What is the role of calcium ions (Ca²⁺) in synaptic transmission?

Answer 2

Calcium ions allow synaptic vesicles to fuse with the pre-synaptic membrane.

Question 3

What happens after synaptic vesicles fuse with the pre-synaptic membrane?

Answer 3

Neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft by exocytosis.

Question 4

How do neurotransmitters affect the post-synaptic membrane?

Answer 4

Neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the post-synaptic membrane, causing sodium (Na⁺) channels to open and depolarizing the membrane.

Question 5

What does the depolarization of the post-synaptic membrane generate?

Answer 5

It generates an action potential in the post-synaptic membrane.

Question 6

What happens to the neurotransmitter after it has activated the post-synaptic membrane?

Answer 6

The neurotransmitter is either broken down or taken up by the pre-synaptic membrane to be recycled.

Question 7

What is the function of the synaptic cleft?

Answer 7

t is the space where neurotransmitters are released to transfer the signal from the pre-synaptic to the post-synaptic membrane.

Question 8

What is the direction of the nerve impulse in synaptic transmission?

Answer 8

The nerve impulse moves from the pre-synaptic membrane to the post-synaptic membrane.

Question 9

what are the two roles of synapses

Answer 9

control of the nerve pathway
integration of information

Question 10

what are the two factors that affect the likelihood that the postsynaptic membrane will depolarise

Answer 10

type of synapse
no. of impulses received #