synaptic transmission

Question 1

What is a synapse?

Answer 1

The synapse is a gap between the axon terminal of one nerve and the dendrite of the next one.

Question 2

What happens when an action potential arrives at the axon terminal?

Answer 2

Voltage gated Ca channels open, causing Ca to flood in and vesicles to fuse with the presynaptic membrane.

Question 3

What occurs after vesicles fuse with the presynaptic membrane?

Answer 3

Neurotransmitters are released and diffuse across the synaptic gap.

Question 4

What happens when neurotransmitters attach to the post synaptic neuroreceptor?

Answer 4

Na channels open, leading to depolarisation in the next neuron.

Question 5

What occurs after depolarisation in the next neuron?

Answer 5

The neuron fires, generating a new impulse (action potential).

Question 6

What happens to the neurotransmitter signal after it has been translated into an electrical signal?

Answer 6

It needs to be cleared so the neuron can receive new impulses.

This can occur through degradation, reuptake, or diffusion away.

Question 7

reuptake

Answer 7

the neurotransmitter is transported back to the presynaptic terminal to be recycled

Question 8

degradation

Answer 8

broken down by enzymes

Question 9

diffusion

Answer 9

neurotransmitters drift away from neuron