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aNeuro Exam I- Lindsey's > Synaptic Physiology I > Flashcards

Synaptic Physiology I Flashcards

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1
Q

The summation of excitatory and inhibitory potentials in neurons is called _____.

A

synaptic integration

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2
Q

What is facilitation?

A

residual Ca++ builds up inside the nerve terminal from previous APs to allow increased strength of new APs

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3
Q

This is the spontaneous exocytosis of a single synaptic vesicle.

A

MEPP (Miniature End Plate Potentials)

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4
Q

What is the strength of the NMJ synapse?

A

strong

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5
Q

Drugs like amphetamine, cocaine, and Prozac exert their actions by _____ of monamine transmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

A

blocking reuptake

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6
Q

What is synaptic depression?

A

depletion of releasable synaptic vesicles, reducing the strength of new APs

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7
Q

What would happen without the sodium channels at the NMJ?

A

total paralysis bc the depolarization wouldn’t spread

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8
Q

What is synaptic integration?

A

the summation of excitatory and inhibitory potentials in neurons

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9
Q

What is exocytosis?

A

the process of vesicle and surface membrane lipid fusion to create a pore by which the NT can diffuse out of the cell

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10
Q

What does MEPP stand for and what does it mean?

A

Miniature End Plate Potentials; the spontaneous exocytosis of a single synaptic vesicle

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11
Q

Name 2 kinds of diseases that weaken the NMJ synapse.

A
  • those that reduce the amount of NT secreted
  • those that block ACh receptor
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12
Q

Drugs like ____, ____, and ____ exert their actions by blocking reuptake of monamine transmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

A

amphetamine, cocaine, and Prozac

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13
Q

What is the speed of the NMJ synapse?

A

fast

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14
Q

Drugs like amphetamine, cocaine, and Prozac exert their actions by blocking reuptake of monamine transmitters like ____ and _____.

A

dopamine and serotonin

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15
Q

In the CNS the major excitatory NT is ____.

A

glutamate

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16
Q

What is the “intelligence” of the CNS?

A

smart

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17
Q

What is the effect of the NMJ synapse?

A

excitatory

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18
Q

Slow synaptic transmission is called _____.

A

neuromodulation

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19
Q

Name 2 types of Ca++ pumps in the plasma membrane.

A
  1. primary active transporter
  2. Na+/Ca++ exchanger (antiporter)
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20
Q

How long does synaptic vesicle recycling take?

A

a few seconds in a well-rested synapse; a few minutes in a hard working one

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21
Q

This is the process of vesicle and surface membrane lipid fusing to create a pore by which the NT can diffuse out of the cell.

A

exocytosis

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22
Q

Motor neurons in the spinal cord send myelinated axons through _____ and _____ to connect with skeletal muscle fibers.

A

ventral roots; peripheral nerves

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23
Q

Virtually every psych drug in use today work specifically at _____.

A

synapses

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24
Q

_____ selectively blocks inhibitory synaptic transmission to produce a powerful, persistent, involuntary skeletal muscle contraction.

A

Tetanus toxin

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25
The main channel opened by glutamate is \_\_\_\_\_.
an NSC channel
26
What is the "intelligence" of the NMJ?
stupid
27
This is the product of the stimulation of the excitatory input that causes depolarization.
excitatory post-synaptic potential (EPSP)
28
A decrease in K+ ion permeability of the post-synaptic membrane = \_\_\_\_\_\_.
depolarization
29
What is the resting membrane potential of a muscle fiber?
-80mV
30
What is the threshold for an AP in a muscle cell?
-50mV
31
What is the motor end plate?
the end of the motor axon where it loses its myelin sheath and splays onto the muscle fiber
32
What is myasthenia gravis?
* an autoimmune disease * Abs to ACh receptors * results in profound weakness upon exertion
33
What is the NT for the CNS synapse?
* ACh * glutamate * GABA * 5-HC * dopamine * aspartate * glycine * ATP * histamine * NE
34
Ca++ ions that flowed into the motor nerve terminal will be \_\_\_\_\_.
pumped out of the cell
35
These are small protuberances from dendrites that make synaptic contact with incoming axon terminals.
dendritic spines
36
What is the NT for the NMJ synapse?
ACh
37
Where does AChE come from?
the synaptic cleft
38
A single motor axon innervates ____ muscle fibers.
many
39
This is an enzyme that cleaves ACh, producing acetate and choline.
AChE
40
What does GABA do?
it increases chloride permeability in the postsynaptic membrane
41
Name 3 mechanisms for clearing NTs from the synaptic cleft.
1. diffusion 2. recycling (pumped out) 3. destruction
42
When does depolarization at the NMJ begin?
when ACh-gated channels are activated
43
What is AChE?
acetylecholine esterase; an enzyme that cleaves ACh, producing acetate and choline
44
The ACh receptor is a _____ channel.
ligand-gated ion
45
What happens if the safety factor of the synaptic transmission is reduced?
neuromuscular transmission can fail during repetitive activity--\> muscle weakness
46
Where is the trigger zone? What does it do?
btw the cell body and the axon; it's where APs arise
47
What is the effect of the CNS synapse?
excitatory OR inhibitory
48
An AP in the inhibitory terminal releases \_\_\_\_, which opens Cl- channels in its target presynaptic terminal.
GABA
49
Where do APs always arise from?
the trigger zone
50
Name 2 receptors that ACh acts upon in the CNS.
* nicotinic * muscarinic
51
A skeletal muscle receives synaptic input from ____ motor neuron.
one
52
What is the transmitter termination for the NMJ?
* diffusion * degradation by esterase
53
The major inhibitory NT in the CNS is \_\_\_\_\_.
GABA
54
What are dendritic spines?
small protuberances from dendrites that make synaptic contact with incoming axon terminals
55
What is the speed of the CNS synapse?
fast OR slow
56
This is when residual Ca++ builds up inside the nerve terminal from previous APs to allow increased strength of new APs.
facilitation
57
Post-exocytic vesicles are retrieved by the formation of \_\_\_\_\_\_.
clathrin coated pits
58
This is the end of the motor axon where it loses its myelin sheath and splays onto the muscle fiber.
the motor end plate
59
What is the difference btw Myasthenia gravis and myasthenic syndrome?
* Myasthenia gravis = post-synaptic block * myasthenic syndrome = pre-synaptic block
60
Why do APs arise at the trigger zone?
the threshold is lower here bc of the high density of voltage-gated Na+ channels
61
An AP in the inhibitory terminal releases GABA, which ______ in its target presynaptic terminal.
opens Cl- channels
62
What happens to ACh?
* it diffuses out it's destroyed by ACh0 * it is re-taken up
63
Why is the ACh-gated ion channel called a Non-Selective Cation (NSC) channel?
it is permeable to ALL cations
64
Binding of ACh (the ligand) opens the gate and Na+ ions flow into the muscle fiber to _____ it.
depolarize
65
CNS neurons receive synaptic input from _____ neurons.
many
66
What is the strength of the CNS synapse?
weak
67
In skeletal muscle only, the postsynaptic membrane is _____ to increase surface area.
folded
68
Dx? * an autoimmune disease * Abs to ACh receptors * results in profound weakness upon exertion
Myasthenia gravis
69
How does the AP propogate all the way to the tendon?
voltage-gated Na+ channels open in both directions away from each other
70
The binding of Ca++ triggers the fusion of ____ of the vesicle and surface membranes, opening a \_\_\_\_\_.
lipids; fusion pore
71
A single AP in the motor axon causes every muscle fiber to twitch \_\_\_\_.
once
72
This is the depletion of releasable synaptic vesicles, reducing the strength of new APs.
synaptic depression
73
What is the transmitter termination for the CNS?
* reuptake * diffusion
74
What is an EPSP?
an excitatory post-synaptic potential; product of the stimulation of the excitatory input that causes depolarization
75
A postsynaptic response can be either ____ or \_\_\_\_.
excitatory; inhibitory
76
Binding of ACh (the ligand) opens the gate and ____ ions flow into the muscle fiber to depolarize it.
Na+
77
During repetitive nerve stimulation, what 2 important and opposing changes occur in the presynaptic terminal?
* the Ca++ ion concentration builds up * the pool of releasable vesicles is depleted

aNeuro Exam I- Lindsey's (26 decks)

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