Synapses and the role of Neurotransmitters Flashcards

1
Q

What does the CNS consist of?

A

the brain and the spinal cord

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2
Q

What does the peripheral nervous system consist of?

A
  • sensory nervous system
  • motor systems
  • autonomic nervous system
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3
Q

What does the atomic nervous system consist of?

A
  • sympathetic
  • parasympathetic
  • enteric
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4
Q

What is a unipolar nerve cell?

A

a single axonal process

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5
Q

What is a multipolar nerve cell?

A

nerve cell with multiple axonal processes

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6
Q

What is a pseudo-unipolar cell?

A

a nerve cell with a single axonal process but with two dendritic regions

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7
Q

What’s the fastest electrical synapse?

A

the gap junction

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8
Q

What are some features of the gap auction?

A
  • direct transfer of ionic current (also small molecules)

- bi-directional

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9
Q

Where are gap junctions found?

A

between neurones in the CNS

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10
Q

What type of neurones takes information to the brain?

A

afferent

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11
Q

What type of neurone takes information away from the brain?

A

efferent

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12
Q

How does synaptic transmission work?

A
  1. action potential invades the nerve terminal
  2. depolarisation triggers Ca2+ channel opening causing Ca2+
  3. Neurotransmitter released by exocytosis
  4. Neurotransmitter diffuses across the synapse and binds to a receptor
  5. post synaptic effect
  6. rapid termination of signal
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13
Q

How is the signal terminated?

A
  • re-upatake of neurotransmitter

- enzymatic breakdown

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14
Q

What is the major excitatory neurotransmitter?

A

glutamate

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15
Q

What is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter?

A

GABA

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16
Q

How do neurotransmitter receptors work?

A

They are membrane spanning proteins that have a structural change when neurotransmitter binds.

  • each receptor is specific for a neurotransmitter
  • one neurotransmitter can have several receptor subtypes
17
Q

What can act as neurotransmitters?

A
  • amino acids
  • monoamines
  • acetylcholine
  • neuroactive peptides
18
Q

What are the two types of receptor signalling mechanisms?

A

Ionotropic (receptor operated/ligand gated channels)

Metabotropic (G protein coupled)

19
Q

How does the ionotropic receptor signalling mechanism work?

A

-trasmitter binding causes a conformational change which causes a channel to open, allowing ion movement

20
Q

How does the metabotrophic receptor signalling mechanism work?

A

-transmitter binding causes a conformational change which activates a G protein which activates effector systems which has indirect effects of opening or closing ion channels, this stimulates or inhibits enzymes/secondary messenger systems