synapse

Question 1

events of chemical synapse

Answer 1

1. Nerve impulse reaches the synaptic knob
2. Calcium ions move into the synaptic knob
3. Synaptic vesicles bind to the inside of the membrane and neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft.
4. Neurotransmitters attach to receptors in the postsynaptic cell, causing ion gates to open
5. Sodium ions move into the postsynaptic cell
6. Change in the postsynaptic cell voltage causes a nerve impulse to begin in the postsynaptic cell

Question 2

Factors necessary for an action potential to occur

Answer 2

• voltage gated sodium channels open
• threshold is met
• depolarization

Question 3

action potential frequency

Answer 3

directly proportional to stimulus strength and to the size of the graded potential

Question 4

subthreshold stimulus

Answer 4

any stimulus not strong enough to produce a graded potential that reaches threshold

Question 5

threshold stimulus

Answer 5

produces a graded potential just strong enough to reach threshold and causes a single action potential

Question 6

maximal stimulus

Answer 6

stimulus that is just strong enough to produce a maximum frequency of action potentials

Question 7

submaximal stimulus

Answer 7

All stimuli between threshold and a stimulus just strong enough to produce maximum frequency of action potentials

Question 8

supramaximal stimulus

Answer 8

Any stimulus stronger than one that is just strong enough to produce a maximum frequency of action potentials