Synaptic Transmission

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

Process of sending info through the gap between two neurons
axon -> dendrite via chemical transmission

Question 2

What occurs first?

Answer 2

Electrical impulse called action potential travels along axon until it reaches the axon terminal

Question 3

What does the action potential prompt as it reaches the axon terminal?

Answer 3

Neurotransmitters in vesicles to be released at the pre-synaptic membrane on the synaptic cleft

Question 4

Where do NTs get released into?

Answer 4

The synaptic fluid

Question 5

What does the NT do when it reaches the post-synaptic membrane of the dendrite?

Answer 5

Binds onto a receptor site which is shape specific for that NT and passes info

Question 6

What does the dendrite do with this info?

Answer 6

Converts it into an electrical impulse to travel down the neuron to the next pre-synpatic terminal

Question 7

What happens to the NT if it doesn’t reach the post-synaptic membrane?

Answer 7

• eaten by an enzyme
• go back into vesicle in pre-synaptic membrane by going up reuptake channel

Question 8

Excitatory NT

Answer 8

stimulate neighboring neuron and increase possibility of action potential

Question 9

Inhibitory NT

Answer 9

Decrease possibility of action potential

Question 10

Summation

Answer 10

Net response of the types of NT which determines to what extent the cell fires