Synaptic Transmission

Question 1

Describe synaptic transmission

Answer 1

-action potential arrives at axon terminal
- causes synaptic vesicles that contain chemical messengers to move towards and merge with the membrane of the pre synaptic cell
-this releases neurotransmitters In the synaptic cleft
-neurotransmitters diffuse across he synaptic cleft reaching the post synaptic cell
- process of summation happens

Question 2

What are excitatory neurotransmitters

Answer 2

They make the formation of a new action potential to fire and post synaptic cell to fire
They are detected by receptors and make the electrical charge more positive

Question 3

What are inhibitory neurotransmitters

Answer 3

They make the electrical charge more negative and the formation of a new action potential and post synaptic cell less likely to fire

Question 4

What is summation

Answer 4

Combined effect if all the exhibitory and inhibitory neurotransmitters influencing the post synaptic neurone, if a threshold is reached a new action potential will form in post synaptic cell