Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

NEU211 Intro to Neuro > The Synapse and Neurotransmitters > Flashcards

The Synapse and Neurotransmitters Flashcards

Exam 2

1
Q

What is the purpose of the synapse?

A

The site of information flow from one neuron to another neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Site of communication from a neuron to (2)

A
  1. Another neuron
  2. Effector (muscle cell)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Presynaptic neuron

A

Neuron that SENDS impulses through the synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Postsynaptic neuron

A

Neuron that RECEIVES information from the synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Each ______ of a dendrite has its own _______

A

spine; synapse

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the two types of synapses?

A
  1. Electrical
  2. Chemical
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Electrical Synapse

A

Gap junctions; DIRECT FLOW from neuron to neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Chemical synapse

A

Synaptic cleft requires neurotransmitters to transmit signals; SPACE INBETWEEN

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Electrical synapses are used for ____________ of cell groups

A

synchronicity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

There is a greater diversity at chemical synapses because

A

Different neurotransmitters can have different effects

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Are there more electrical or chemical synapses?

A

Chemical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the paired channels in Electrical synapses called?

A

Connexons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the proteins that make up the paired channels?

A

Connexins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Electrical synapses allow a direct or indirect flow?

A

Direct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

A place in the brain that uses electrical synapses is?

A

The Pons/Medulla

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Why do the pons and the medulla use electrical synapses?

A

Regulating heartbeat and breathing is a synchronous process, which means that all nerves must fire at once

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the three types of chemical synapses?

A
  1. Axosomatic
  2. Axodendritic
  3. Axoaxonal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Axosomatic synapses

A

Axon attaches to cell bodies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Axodendritic synapses

A

Axon to dendrite

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Axoaxonal synapses

A

Axon to axon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is the most common chemical synapse?

A

Axodendritic synapses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Synaptic vesicles are specialized to release _________ into the synapse

A

Neurotransmitters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Two parts of Chemical synapses

A
  1. Axon terminal of postsynaptic neurons
  2. NTs receptor region on postsynaptic neurons
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Synaptic cleft

A

Fluid-filled space between the pre and post synaptic neuron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

NTs can be ________________ or ________________

A

Inhibitory or excitatory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What channels are in the receptors?

A

ligand-gate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Excitatory NTs cause

A

depolarization

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Inhibitory NTs cause

A

hyperpolarization

29
Q

Steps of synaptic transmission (5)

A
  1. Action Potential arrives at the axon terminal
  2. VG Ca2+ channels open and Ca2+ enters the axon
  3. Ca2+ entry causes synaptic vesicles to release NT by exocytosis
  4. NTs diffuse across the synapse
  5. Binding of NTs opens ion channels, resulting in graded potentials
30
Q

Is there one or many types of NTs in the synaptic vesicles?

A

Many types

31
Q

Without certain ______, the certain NTs will be ineffective

32
Q

Two types of post synaptic potentials

33
Q

EPSP

A

Excitatory postsynaptic potential

34
Q

EPSP leads to ______

A

depolarization

35
Q

IPSP

A

Inhibitory postsynaptic potential

36
Q

IPSP leads to _______

A

Hyperpolarization

37
Q

A strong enough excitatory cell can cause an

A

action potential

38
Q

Two types of summation

A
  1. Temporal
    2.Spatial
39
Q

Temporal summation

A

1 presynaptic neuron; rapid repeat EPSPs in the SAME location; add and sum to produce AP

40
Q

What causes temporal summation?

A

a high frequency AP being sent by a presynaptic neuron

41
Q

Spatial summation

A

2+ Presynaptic neurons; EPSPs in DIFFERENT parts of the neuron

42
Q

EPSP and IPSP at the same time cause a

A

return to resting potential

43
Q

What are the three ways of termination of a NT?

A
  1. Reuptake in presynaptic
  2. Degradation
  3. Diffusion
44
Q

What part of the synapse does the reuptake in presynaptic neuron?

A

By astrocytes or axon terminal

45
Q

Degradation

A

Caused by enzymes

46
Q

Diffusion

A

Diffuses away from the synaptic cleft; molecules move from high to low

47
Q

What is a neurotransmitter?

A

A chemical substance released at the end of a neuron that communicates with another neuron

48
Q

What is the three criteria for NTs

A

NT presented, NT released, NT receptors activated

49
Q

Why is there more chemical synapses than electrical synapses?

A

Chemical releases NTs which diversify the post synaptic responses

50
Q

What are the four categories of NTs?

A
  1. Amino Acids
  2. Monoamides
  3. Small molecules
  4. Neuropeptides
51
Q

3 most common amino acids

A
  1. GABA
  2. Glutamate
  3. Glycine
52
Q

GABA

A

CNS-inhibitory

53
Q

Glycine

A

CNS-inhibitory

54
Q

Glutamate

A

CNS-Excitatory

55
Q

3 most common types of Monoamides

A
  1. Dopamine
  2. Norepinephrine
  3. Serotonin
56
Q

Dopamine

A

CNS; learning, euphoria; movement

57
Q

Norepinephrine

A

CNS; arousal, flight or fight response

58
Q

Serotonin (5HT)

A

Sleep, Mood, Wakefulness

59
Q

Two types of Neuropeptides

A
  1. Substance p-pain sensation
    2.Endorphin
60
Q

Endorphin function

A

decrease pain sensation

61
Q

What are the two types of receptors?

A

Metabotropic and Ionotropic

62
Q

How do Ionotropic receptors work?

A

NT binds to sensor; Ions flow freely through ion channel

63
Q

Is ionotropic fast and brief or slow and long?

A

Fast and brief

64
Q

How do metabotropic receptors work?

A

NT binds to a sensor which activates a g-protein inside the cell; G-protein can open and close nearby ion channels

65
Q

Is metabotropic fast and brief or slow and long?

A

slow and long

66
Q

Two types of pathways

A
  1. Diverging pathway
  2. Converging pathway
67
Q

Divergent pathways

A

One presynaptic neuron affects a larger number of postsynaptic neurons

68
Q

Converging pathways

A

Many presynaptic neurons converge into a smaller number of postsynaptic neurons

69
Q

What is the main excitatory NT in the adult brain?

NEU211 Intro to Neuro (13 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions