Synapses and Synaptic Transmission

Question 1

What membranes deliver info in the form of neurotransmitters?

Answer 1

presynaptic membranes

Question 2

What membranes receive info because they have receptors for neurotransmitters?

Answer 2

postsynaptic membranes

Question 3

What causes the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft?

Answer 3

action potential

Question 4

What is the type of transmission where the release of a chemical at a synapse whereby one cell influences another?

Answer 4

chemical synaptic transmission

Question 5

What are ion-opening channels called?

Answer 5

ligand-gated channels

Question 6

What types of synapses generate POSTsynaptic potentials?

Answer 6

neuromuscular, axosomatic, axodendritic

Question 7

What type of synapses generate PREsynaptic inhibition/facilitation?

Answer 7

axoaxonic

Question 8

What are potentials caused by changes in ion concentration across the postsynaptic membrane?

Answer 8

postsynaptic potential (PSP)

Question 9

What causes EPSPs (excitatory)?

Answer 9

local depolarization

Question 10

What causes IPSPs (inhibitory)?

Answer 10

local hyperpolarization

Question 11

How do EPSPs work?

Answer 11

nt binds to postsynaptic receptors causing an opening of Na+ or Ca2+ channels

Question 12

Summation of what type of PSPS will lead to an action potential?

Answer 12

EPSPs

Question 13

How do IPSPs work?

Answer 13

nt binds to postsynaptic receptors causing an opening of Cl- or K+ channels

Question 14

What occurs when NTs causing depolarization will lead to an increased release of NTs?

Answer 14

presynaptic facilitation

Question 15

What occurs when NTs causing hyperpolarizing will lead to a decreased release of NTs?

Answer 15

presynaptic inhibition

Question 16

What are the three mechanisms that remove NTs from the synaptic clefts?

Answer 16

neurotransmitter transporters (reuptake), enzymatic degradation, uptake by glial cells (astrocytes)

Question 17

How do postsynaptic potentials influence the postsynaptic memrane?

Answer 17

through general summation

Question 18

What type of summation occurs at different locations in the membrane?

Answer 18

spatial summation

Question 19

What type of summation occurs at the same location but in rapid succession?

Answer 19

temporal summation

Question 20

How does integration of info occur?

Answer 20

through summation of postsynaptic potentials

Question 21

How do NTs and neuromodulators cause action?

Answer 21

directly on ion channels (ionotropic) or indirectly activating proteins inside post-synaptic neuron (metabotropic)

Question 22

What is released into extracellular fluid to adjust the activity of many neurons?

Answer 22

neuromodulators

Question 23

What type of neurotransmitters act directly (ionotropic)?

Answer 23

fast-acting (acetylcholine, glutamate, GABA)

Question 24

What type of nts act indirectly (metabotropic)?

Answer 24

slow-acting (dopamine, serotonin)

Question 25

T/F do neuromodulators manifest more slowly but longer than nts?

Answer 25

TRUE

Question 26

What is one of the most common neuropeptides?

Answer 26

substance P

Question 27

What is the job of substance P?

Answer 27

stimulates nerve endings at the site of injury and carries info from the spinal cord to the brain

Question 28

What is a prominent modulator that responds to pain syndromes?

Answer 28

substance P

Question 29

How do synaptic receptors produce actions?

Answer 29

directly (single unit with ion channel) and indirectly (cascade of intracellular molecules)

Question 30

What are the three mechanisms postsynaptic receptors use to transduce signals?

Answer 30

directly open ion channels, indirect ^, indirectly activating a cascade

Question 31

Metabotropic receptors release what that binds to specific ion channels to open them?

Answer 31

G-proteins

Question 32

What system is responsible for the most profound and long-lasting changes in the nervous system?

Answer 32

G-protein Second-messenger System

Question 33

What three things do second-messenger systems activate?

Answer 33

genes that change quantities of nts and receptors, opening of ion channels, regulate CA2+ concentrations

Question 34

What is the major nt of the PNS?

Answer 34

Acetylcholine

Question 35

What nt is utilized at the neuromuscular junction?

Answer 35

acetylcholine

Question 36

What are the two categories of ACh receptors?

Answer 36

nicotinic (ionotropic at NMJ) and muscarinic (metabotropic like G-protein receptors)

Question 37

What diseases does acetylcholine contribute to?

Answer 37

myasthenia gravis and alzheimer's

Question 38

What is the main excitatory nt of CNS?

Answer 38

glutamate

Question 39

What conditions does glutamate contribute to?

Answer 39

depression and epilepsy

Question 40

What is the most common fast-acting inhibitory nt?

Answer 40

GABA

Question 41

What GABA receptor is ionotropic and produces hyperpolarization?

Answer 41

GABAa (antianxiety and sedation)

Question 42

What GABA receptor is slow acting via second messenger?

Answer 42

GABAb (baclofen; muscle relaxant)

Question 43

What nts inhibit neurons involved with the perception of pain?

Answer 43

opioids

Question 44

What is a slow-acting nt that suppresses Ca2+ channels?

Answer 44

dopamine

Question 45

Low levels of dopamine is associated with what disease?

Answer 45

Parkinson's disease

Question 46

High levels of dopamine is associated with what disease?

Answer 46

schizophrenia

Question 47

What drug interferes with dopamine reuptake?

Answer 47

cocaine

Question 48

What nt is involved with the fight or flight response?

Answer 48

norepinephrine

Question 49

What are the two major norepinephrine subtypes?

Answer 49

A receptors relax smooth muscle / B receptors contract cardiac muscle

Question 50

What nt is responsible for general arousal level?

Answer 50

serotonin

Question 51

What antidepressant inhibits serotonin reuptake?

Answer 51

Prozac

Question 52

What are drugs that mimic the effect of nts?

Answer 52

agonists

Question 53

What disease is caused by antibodies that attack nicotinic receptors in muscle cells?

Answer 53

myasthenia gravis