The process of synaptic transmission

Question 1

What is a synapse

Answer 1

The conjunction at the end of an axon and the dendrite or cell body of another

Includes:
The end of the presynaptic neuron
The membrane of the post synaptic neuron
The synaptic cleft

Question 2

What does synaptic transmission include

Answer 2

Pre synaptic neuron
Post synaptic neuron
Synaptic cleft
Action potentials
Neurotransmitters
Synaptic vesicles
Receptors
Excitation
inhibition

Question 3

1) Action potential

Answer 3

Action potential is the nerve impulses that travel down the neuron to the axon ready to be passed on.

Action potential reaches the synaptic vesicles in the pre syaptic terminal

Question 4

2) Neurotransmitters

Answer 4

When the AP reaches the synaptic vessicles in the pre synaptic terminal, it causes them to release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.

Question 5

3) synaptic cleft

Answer 5

The neurotransmitters diffuse across the cleft and arrive at the post-synaptic membrane

Question 6

4) post-synaptic receptors

Answer 6

Neurotransmitters bind to the specialised post synaptic receptors

Question 7

5) effects

Answer 7

Either excitatory or inhibitory effects

EPSP or IPSP

Question 8

6) EPSP

Answer 8

Increased voltage in the cell and more likely to reach the threshold of -55mv needed for a signal to be generated

Question 9

7) IPSP

Answer 9

Decrease in voltage in the cell, therefore less likely to reach the threshold needed for a signal to be generated

Question 10

8) Whether a signal is generated

Answer 10

depends on balance of EPSP and IPSP which the cell summates

Question 11

10) Summation

Answer 11

chance the AP is generated can be increased if a singke synapse is stimulated frequently or if numrous synapses are stimulated at the same time