Synaptic Transmission

Question 1

what is the gap between the neurons called?

Answer 1

synapse

Question 2

how are signals within a neuron transmitted?

Answer 2

electrically

Question 3

how are signals between neurons transmitted?

Answer 3

chemically

Question 4

what happens when the electrical impulse reaches the end of the neuron?

Answer 4

it triggers the release of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles

Question 5

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 5

chemicals that diffuse across synapse to the next neuron in the chain

Question 6

What happens to the neurotransmitter after it diffuses across the synapse?

Answer 6

• It is taken up by a postsynaptic receptor site on the dendrites of the next neuron
• chemical message is converted back into an electrical impulse and the process of transmission begins again in the next neuron

Question 7

Why does the neurotransmitter have a specific structure?

Answer 7

• A neurotransmitter has its own specific molecular structure that fits perfectly into a postsynaptic receptor site.
• Neurotransmitters also have specialist functions

Question 8

What is excitation?

Answer 8

• neurotransmitter such as adrenaline increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron
• increases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will pass on the electrical impulse

Question 9

What is inhibition?

Answer 9

• neurotransmitter such as serotonin increases the negative charge of the postsynaptic neuron
• decreases the likelihood that the postsynaptic neuron will pass on an impulse

Question 10

What is summation?

Answer 10

• if the net effect on the postsynaptic neuron is inhibitory then the post synaptic neuron is less likely to fire
• action potential of the postsynaptic neuron is only triggered if the sum of the excitatory and inhibitory signals at any one time reaches the threshold