Synaptic Transfer And Neurotransmitters Flashcards

1
Q

What are synapses?

A

The physical gaps that separate neurons from other neurons and receptor or effector cells

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2
Q

How do neurons transmit information?

A

Convert electrical signal into chemical signal

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3
Q

What is the first step of the chemical transfer across synapses?

A

A neurotransmitter is synthesised and stored in vesicles of the presynaptic neuron.

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4
Q

What happens after a neurotransmitter is made and stored in vesicles of the presynaptic neuron?

A

Action potential reaches the presynaptic terminal.

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5
Q

What happens after an action potential reaches the presynaptic terminal?

A

The presynaptic terminal depolarizes which results in the voltage gated calcium channels to open

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6
Q

What happens when the voltage gated calcium channels opens?

A

There is an influx of calcium through channels

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7
Q

What happens when calcium flows through the voltage gated calcium channels?

A

The vesicles containing the neurotransmitter fuse with a presynaptic membrane.

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8
Q

What happens when the vesicles fuse with a presynaptic membrane?

A

The neurotransmitter is released from presynaptic neuron into the synaptic cleft via exocytosis.

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9
Q

What happens when the neurotransmitter is released into the synaptic cleft?

A

The neurotransmitter binds to receptor molecules, called ligand gated ion channels, on the postsynaptic membrane

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10
Q

What is a ligand?

A

A chemical messenger

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11
Q

What happens when the neurotransmitter binds to the ligand gated ion channel?

A

Opening or closing of postsynaptic ion channels (for example if Na + channels are opened, Na + ions will enter the postsynaptic neuron and depolarize the neuron, possibly initiating an action potential).

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12
Q

What happens when the ligand gated ion channels open or close?

A

The membrane potential of postsynaptic neuron changes (for example, depolarized if sodium channels are opened), which affects whether the postsynaptic cell may have an action potential.

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13
Q

What happens when the membrane potential of the ligand gated ion channels changes?

A

The vesicular membrane is retrieved from the plasma membrane of the presynaptic neuron

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14
Q

What is acetylcholine?

A

created in the axon terminal by combining choline with an acetyl group (derived from mitochondrial Acetyl CoA)

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15
Q

What two classes of specific receptors does acetylcholine bind to?

A

Nicotinic and muscarinic

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16
Q

What happens when there is too much acetylcholine in the synapse?

A

Fatal seizures and paralysis

17
Q

What breaks down acetylcholine into its two components

A

Acetylcholinesterase(AchE)

18
Q

Where does the liberated choline return to?

A

The presynaptic neuron where it is coupled with another acetate to reform acetylcholine