Synaptic Transmission

Question 1

What is synapse specialised for

Answer 1

Specialised for the release and reception of a chemical neurotransmitter

Question 2

How wide is the synaptic cleft and what does it do

Answer 2

It is 30-50nm wide and prevents transmission of the AP from one neuron to another

Question 3

What diffuses through the synapse

Answer 3

Neurotransmitter is diffused across the synapse and the transmission us unidirectional

Question 4

What is synaptic integration

Answer 4

The process by which an individual neuron processes its synaptic inputs and converts them into an output signal

Question 5

Describe the events at the synapse

Answer 5

• Synaptic transmission begins with AP conduction to the axon terminal.
• depolarissation of the acon terminal opens voltage gated Ca2+ channels
• vesicles respond by fusing with the pre synaptic membrane releasing neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft
• neurotransmitters bind with receptors on the post synaptic that are ligand gated ions causing a change in membrane potential
• afted inactivation neurotransmittersbare re absorbed into the pre synaptic terminal and stored in vesicles until the next AP arrives

Question 6

What happens to the neurotransmitter once it bounds to the ion channels and it’s done its job

Answer 6

Goes back up to the nerve terminal

Question 7

What are the name of the graded potentials

Answer 7

• excitatory postsynaptic potential

- inhibitory postsynapic potential

Question 8

What is excitatory postsynaptic potential

Answer 8

..

Question 9

What is inhibitory postsynaptic potential

Answer 9

….

Question 10

What are the drugs that alter synaptic transmission

Answer 10

Botulinum toxin
Tetanus toxin
Cocaine

Question 11

How is botulinum toxin produced

Answer 11

Produced by clostridium a gram postive anaerobic bacterium