The synapse

Question 1

electrical synapses

Answer 1

gap junctions- allow local currents to flow between adjacent cells

Question 2

connexons

Answer 2

tubular proteins–>separate membranes of adjacent cells

Question 3

excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)

Answer 3

combination of neurotransmitters with specific receptor causing depolarization

Question 4

inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)

Answer 4

combination of neurotransmitters with receptor resulting in hyperpolarization

Question 5

axoaxonic synapes

Answer 5

axon of one neuron synapses with presynaptic terminal of another

Question 6

presynaptic inhibition

Answer 6

amount of neurotransmitter released from presynaptic terminal decreases

Question 7

presynaptic facilitation

Answer 7

amount of neurotransmitter released from presynaptic terminal increases

Question 8

spatial summation

Answer 8

multiple action potentials arrive simultaneously at 2 different presynaptic terminals (synapsing with same postsynaptic neuron)

Question 9

temporal summation

Answer 9

when two or more action potentials arrive in close succession at a single presynaptic terminal

Question 10

convergent pathways

Answer 10

many neurons converge and synapse with a smaller number of neurons

Question 11

divergent pathways

Answer 11

small number of presynaptic neurons synapse with larger number of postsynaptic neurons- diverge into more pathways

Question 12

reverberating circuits

Answer 12

chain of neurons-with a loop- can produce action potential more than once (breathing)

Question 13

parallel after-discharge circuits

Answer 13

neurons that stimulate several neurons in parallel organization- stimulate common output cell