Synaptic Transmission

Question 1

First stage

Answer 1

• action potential arrives at axon terminal
• causes vesicles to merge at membrane of pre-synaptic cell

Question 2

Stage 2

Answer 2

• releases neurotransmitters into the synaptic-cleft
• neurotransmitters diffuse across synaptic cleft reaching the post-synaptic cell

Question 3

Stage 3

Answer 3

• new electrical action potential to form in the postsynaptic cell
• electrical charge needs to pass threshold

Question 4

Stage 4

Answer 4

• synaptic cleft has a range of neurotransmitters

Question 5

Threshold

Answer 5

• where the neurotransmitters get involved

Question 6

Excitatory

Answer 6

• when detected by receptors they make the electrical charge more positive

Question 7

Depolarisation

Answer 7

• happens because receptors allow positively charged sodium ions into the cell
• the formation of new action potential is then more likely

Question 8

Inhibitory

Answer 8

• hyperpolarized the post-synaptic neuron making it more negative by releasing potassium
• formation of new action potential is less likely

Question 9

Summation

Answer 9

• the effects of all excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters influences on the post-synaptic cell, if threshold is reached new action potential will form in the post-synaptic cell

Question 10

Uni-directional

Answer 10

• infomation passed chemically between neurones can only be passed in one direction
• neurotransmitters have been detected by receptors they detach

Question 11

Reuptake

Answer 11

• neurotransmitters are reabsorbed into the pre-synaptic cell after transmitting a neural impulse
• this happens at the transport of proteins and prepares the cell to fire again