synaptic transmission

Question 1

what is synaptic transmission?

Answer 1

neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the synapse

Question 2

what is a synapse?

Answer 2

Each neuron separated by a tiny gap (the synapse).

Question 3

what are the 6 parts of a synapse

Answer 3

vesicles
neurotransmitters
post-synaptic receptor sites
pre-synaptic neuron
post-synaptic neuron
synaptic cleft

Question 4

what is the function of vesicles?

Answer 4

membrane enclosed sacs that store neurotransmitters

Question 5

what is the function of neurotransmitters?

Answer 5

chemicals, can be excitatory or inhibitory

Question 6

what is the function of post-synaptic receptor sites?

Answer 6

membrane of post-S neuron, recieves NTS

Question 7

what is the function of pre-synaptic neuron?

Answer 7

converts electical impulse to chemical

Question 8

what is the function of post-synaptic neuron?

Answer 8

recieves chemical signal, converts back to electical

Question 9

what is the function of synaptic cleft?

Answer 9

physical gap between pre and post synaptic neurons.

Question 10

what is the excitatory effect on neurons?

Answer 10

when a NTS increases the +ve charge of the post-synaptic neuron, increases liklehood of passing on .

Question 11

what is the inhibitory effect on neurons?

Answer 11

transmitter increases -ve charge of post-synaptic neuron, less likely to pass on

Question 12

whatis the process of synaptic transmission?

Answer 12

• action potntial travels down axon of pre-s neuron to terminal button
  -vesicles move forward and merge with membrane, release NTS into synapse
• NTS diffuse across cleft to post-s neuron
  -NTS bink to complimentary receptors

Question 12

what is summation?

Answer 12

net effect of -ve and +ve charge
If the net effect is excitatory, neuron more likely to fire. If inhibitory, less likely.