Week 3: Chemical Synapse, Neuropharmacology & Neurotransmitters

Question 1

Front

Answer 1

Back

Question 2

Region where a neuron releases neurotransmitters into a gap to communicate with another cell

Answer 2

CHEMICAL SYNAPSE

Question 3

Swollen axonal areas in diffuse synapses where neurotransmitters are stored and released

Answer 3

VARICOSITIES

Question 4

Ion that enters the presynaptic terminal to trigger vesicle fusion and transmitter release

Answer 4

CALCIUM (CA²⁺)

Question 5

Vesicle docking and fusion step that delays transmission by 0.5–1 ms

Answer 5

SYNAPTIC DELAY

Question 6

Type of synapse requiring repeated stimulation to release transmitters due to lower efficiency

Answer 6

PEPTIDERGIC SYNAPSE

Question 7

Membrane receptors that form ion channels for fast voltage changes

Answer 7

IONOTROPIC RECEPTORS

Question 8

Membrane receptors that act through G proteins and second messengers for slower effects

Answer 8

METABOTROPIC RECEPTORS

Question 9

Depolarizing voltage change produced by neurotransmitter binding on the postsynaptic cell

Answer 9

EXCITATORY POSTSYNAPTIC POTENTIAL (EPSP)

Question 10

Hyperpolarizing voltage change that decreases the chance of an action potential

Answer 10

INHIBITORY POSTSYNAPTIC POTENTIAL (IPSP)

Question 11

Process that removes neurotransmitters by reuptake into the neuron or glial cells

Answer 11

REUPTAKE

Question 12

Breakdown of neurotransmitters by enzymes in the cleft or on the postsynaptic membrane

Answer 12

ENZYMATIC DEGRADATION

Question 13

Simple passive loss of neurotransmitter from the cleft into surrounding fluid

Answer 13

DIFFUSION

Question 14

Drug that binds a receptor and fully activates it

Answer 14

FULL AGONIST

Question 15

Drug that binds and activates a receptor but produces a smaller response than a full agonist

Answer 15

PARTIAL AGONIST

Question 16

Drug that binds to a receptor and induces a response opposite to that of the agonist

Answer 16

INVERSE AGONIST

Question 17

Drug that binds without activating a receptor but blocks agonists from binding

Answer 17

ANTAGONIST

Question 18

Antagonist that competes directly with agonists for the same binding site

Answer 18

COMPETITIVE ANTAGONIST

Question 19

Antagonist that binds a different site and cannot be displaced by increasing agonist concentration

Answer 19

NON-COMPETITIVE ANTAGONIST

Question 20

Drug that binds to a receptor site different from the agonist to modulate receptor function

Answer 20

ALLOSTERIC MODULATOR

Question 21

Enhances the response of the receptor to the natural ligand

Answer 21

POSITIVE ALLOSTERIC MODULATOR

Question 22

Reduces the response of the receptor to the natural ligand

Answer 22

NEGATIVE ALLOSTERIC MODULATOR

Question 23

Maximum possible biological effect a drug can achieve

Answer 23

EFFICACY (EMAX)

Question 24

Drug concentration that produces 50% of the maximal effect

Answer 24

POTENCY (EC50)

Question 25

Concentration at which half of the receptors are bound by a drug

Answer 25

BINDING AFFINITY (KD)

Question 26

The range between the effective dose and the toxic dose of a drug

Answer 26

THERAPEUTIC WINDOW

Question 27

Ratio comparing the toxic dose to the effective dose of a drug

Answer 27

THERAPEUTIC INDEX (TI)

Question 28

Group of neurons that release acetylcholine as their primary neurotransmitter

Answer 28

CHOLINERGIC NEURONS

Question 29

Enzyme responsible for breaking down acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft

Answer 29

ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE (ACHE)

Question 30

Ionotropic receptor subtype for acetylcholine involved in fast excitatory transmission

Answer 30

NICOTINIC RECEPTOR

Question 31

Metabotropic receptor subtype for acetylcholine with five subtypes (M1–M5)

Answer 31

MUSCARINIC RECEPTOR

Question 32

Major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for synaptic plasticity

Answer 32

GLUTAMATE

Question 33

Main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system

Answer 33

GABA

Question 34

Excitatory amino acid receptor subtype linked to learning and memory, and targeted in depression

Answer 34

NMDA RECEPTOR

Question 35

Ionotropic glutamate receptor subtype involved in fast excitatory transmission and cognition

Answer 35

AMPA RECEPTOR

Question 36

Ionotropic glutamate receptor subtype involved in modulating excitation/inhibition balance

Answer 36

KAINATE RECEPTOR

Question 37

Glutamate receptor group that modulates synaptic activity and is involved in Fragile X syndrome

Answer 37

GROUP I MGLUR

Question 38

Group of metabotropic glutamate receptors with inhibitory and neuroprotective effects

Answer 38

GROUP II MGLUR

Question 39

Group of metabotropic glutamate receptors that regulate neurotransmitter release

Answer 39

GROUP III MGLUR

Question 40

Fast inhibitory GABA receptor that opens chloride channels

Answer 40

GABA\_A RECEPTOR

Question 41

Slow metabotropic GABA receptor that inhibits adenylate cyclase and opens K+ channels

Answer 41

GABA\_B RECEPTOR

Question 42

Neurons that release dopamine, norepinephrine, or epinephrine

Answer 42

CATECHOLAMINERGIC NEURONS

Question 43

Main mechanism that terminates catecholamine action in the synapse

Answer 43

REUPTAKE VIA TRANSPORTERS

Question 44

Catecholamine-degrading enzyme found in mitochondria

Answer 44

MONOAMINE OXIDASE (MAO)

Question 45

Class of adrenergic receptors found in smooth muscle and the CNS

Answer 45

ALPHA AND BETA RECEPTORS

Question 46

Excitatory dopamine receptor family coupled to Gs proteins

Answer 46

D1-LIKE RECEPTORS

Question 47

Inhibitory dopamine receptor family coupled to Gi proteins

Answer 47

D2-LIKE RECEPTORS

Question 48

Dopaminergic dysfunction in this brain region contributes to hallucinations and delusions

Answer 48

MESOLIMBIC SYSTEM

Question 49

Precursor of dopamine used in Parkinson's disease therapy

Answer 49

L-DOPA

Question 50

D2 antagonist antipsychotics used to treat schizophrenia

Answer 50

HALOPERIDOL AND CHLORPROMAZINE