3- Synaptic Transmission Flashcards
How does information travel?
At the synapse from one cell to the next
2 types of synapses
Electrical and chemical
How do membranes connect in electrical synapses?
Between presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons
What does an AP in a presynaptic neuron generate in a postsynaptic neuron?
An electrically mediated postsynaptic potential
What happens if several PSPs occur simultaneously?
It might be enough to generate an action potential
What type of synapses are the majority of synaptic transmission?
Chemical synapses
What is needed in chemical synapses?
Lots of ATP
What are neuromuscular junctions between?
Between axons of motor neurons of spinal cord and skeletal muscles
5 steps in a chemical synapse
1- neurotransmitter synthesised in presynaptic neuron
2- stored in synaptic vesicle
3- release
4- binds to receptor in postsynaptic membrane
5- removal from synaptic cleft
Excitatory
Makes inside of cell more positive, generation of AP
Inhibitory
Makes inside of cell more negative, harder to generate an AP
Unidirectional
APs only travel from pre to postsynaptic
