synapse

Question 1

what is a synapse

Answer 1

• the very small gap between adjacent neurons

Question 2

what direction do synapses occur?

Answer 2

from axon to dendrite/cell body

Question 3

what is the first step of a synapse?

Answer 3

• AP arrives at pre synaptic terminal and triggers voltage gated calcium channels to open

Question 4

what is the second step of a synapse?

Answer 4

• causes calcium to rush into presynaptic terminal via conc gradient

Question 5

what is the third step of a synapse?

Answer 5

• calcium binds to vesicle and triggers it to migrate towards synapse

Question 6

what is the fourth step of a synapse?

Answer 6

• vesicle binds to membrane and excretes neurotransmitters by exocytosis

Question 7

what is the fifth step of a synapse?

Answer 7

• neurotransmitters diffuse across the clef and bind to chemically gated sodium channels on post synaptic terminal

Question 8

what is the sixth step of a synapse?

Answer 8

• this stimulates ligand-gated protein channels to open which allows influx of Na via conc gradient

Question 9

what is the seventh step of a synapse?

Answer 9

• an AP will be generated in the post synaptic membrane

Question 10

what is the eighth step of a synapse?

Answer 10

• neurotransmitters will be reabsorbed into a presynaptic cleft or broken down by enzyme action