synaptic transmission

Question 1

what does the action potential do?

Answer 1

• AP goes down the axon to the axon terminal

Question 2

what does the action potential allow the neurotransmitters to do?

Answer 2

• AP allows synaptic vesicles full of NT to move to the edge of the cell and release the NT into the synaptic gap

Question 3

what do the released neurotransmitters do?

Answer 3

• NT drift across synaptic gap and bond to receptors via lock and key mechanism

Question 4

what happens when the neurotransmitters get to the the receptors?

Answer 4

• once receptors are full of NT a new AP will start on the next cell

Question 5

what happens to excess neurotransmitters?

Answer 5

• excess NT are reabsorbed into pre-synaptic membrane