Synaptic transmission Flashcards
What is a synapse?
Transmission of electric nerve impulses between two nerve cells or neuron and effector
Name 2 chemical messengers
Hormones and Neurotransmitters
What are the 2 types of synapses, which one is more rare?
Electrical and chemical, electrical is rarer.
Where are gap junctions most common?
Heart and smooth muscle
Where can chemical synapses exist?
From neuron to neuron and neuron to effector
Three types of Synapses?
Axosomatic, axodendritic, axoaxonal synapses.
What are the 6 steps of the generation of a synaptic response?
- AP conduction to the terminal
- Calcium enters the picture
- Vesicles are released
- Chemical messenger binds
- The chemical messenger moves on
Name 3 ways neurotransmitter effect is terminated
Reuptake via astrocytes or axon terminal.
Degradation via enzymes.
Diffusion away from synaptic cleft.
Name 2 ways molecules enter and exit a cell, what is required for it to happen?
Endocytosis and Exocytosis. ATP is required.
What determines how much neurotransmitter is released?
Higher frequencies of impulses.
How would the amount of neurotransmitter released affect the size of the graded potential?
Larger the amount of neurotransmitter, larger the graded potential.
Which neurotransmitter is being released and which post synaptic receptor is activated is also important. Why?
The RMP can go up and down in a post synaptic cell.
Synaptic transmission can be?
Excitatory or inhibitory
Specialised types of synapses?
Excitatory Postsynaptic potential.
Inhibitory postsynaptic potential
What types of summation is there?
No summation
Temporal summation
Spatial summation.