Scribd
Upload
159 views

Synapse

A synapse is the region where communication occurs between two neurons or between a neuron and an effector cell. At a synapse, the presynaptic neuron releases neurotransmitters that bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell. There are two main types of synapses - chemical synapses, where neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft to activate receptors, and electrical synapses, where neurons are directly connected through gap junctions allowing faster communication and synchronization of activity. At a chemical synapse, an action potential triggers the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles, which bind to and open ion channels on the postsynaptic membrane to produce excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials.

Uploaded by

Nadzierah Razak
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
159 views

Synapse

A synapse is the region where communication occurs between two neurons or between a neuron and an effector cell. At a synapse, the presynaptic neuron releases neurotransmitters that bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell. There are two main types of synapses - chemical synapses, where neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft to activate receptors, and electrical synapses, where neurons are directly connected through gap junctions allowing faster communication and synchronization of activity. At a chemical synapse, an action potential triggers the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles, which bind to and open ion channels on the postsynaptic membrane to produce excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials.

Uploaded by

Nadzierah Razak
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 7

SYNAPSE

Regionwherecommunicationoccursbetweentwoneuronsorbetweenaneuronand
aneffectorcell(musclecellorglandularcell).
Presynapticneuronreferstoanervecellthatcarriesanerveimpulsetoward
asynapse.Itisthecellthatsendsasignal.
Postsynapticcellisthecellthatreceivesasignal.Itmaybeanervecellcalled
apostsynapticneuronthatcarriesanerveimpulseawayfromasynapseoran
effectorcellthatrespondstotheimpulseatthesynapse.
Othertypesofsynapseare
i)
ii)
iii)

axodendritic(fromaxontodendrite)
axosomatic(fromaxontocellbody)
axoaxonic(fromaxontoaxon)

ANATOMYOFASYNAPSE
1) synapticknobwtransmittervesicleandpresynapticmembrane
2) synapticcleft
3) postsynapticmembrane

ELECTRICALSYNAPSE
Electrical synapses have two main advantages:
1. Faster communication. Because action potentials conduct
directly through gap junctions, electrical synapses are faster than
chemical synapses. At an electrical synapse, the action potential
passes directly from the presynaptic cell to the post- synaptic cell.
The events that occur at a chemical synapse take some time and
delay communication slightly.
2. Synchronization. Electrical synapses can synchronize
(coordinate) the activity of a group of neurons or muscle fibers. In
other words, a large number of neurons or muscle fibers can
produce action potentials in unison if they are connected by gap
junctions. The value of synchronized action potentials in the heart or
in visceral smooth muscle is coordinated contrac- tion of these
fibers to produce a heartbeat or move food through the
gastrointestinal tract.
CHEMICAL SYNAPSE

A typical chemical synapse transmission:


1) A nerve impulse arrives at a synaptic end bulb of a presynaptic
axon.
2) The depolarizing phase of the nerve impulse opens voltage-

gated Ca2 channels, which are present in the membrane of


synaptic end bulbs. Because calcium ions are more concentrated in
the extracellular fluid, Ca2 flows inward through the opened
channels.
3) An increase in the concentration of Ca 2 inside the presynaptic
neuron serves as a signal that triggers exocytosis of the synaptic
vesicles. As vesicle membranes merge with the plasma membrane,
neurotransmitter molecules within the vesicles are released into the
synaptic cleft. Each synaptic vesicle contains several thousand
molecules of neurotransmitter.
4) The neurotransmitter molecules diffuse across the synaptic cleft and
bind to neurotransmitter receptors in the postsynaptic neurons
plasma membrane.
5) Binding of neurotransmitter molecules to their receptors on ligandgated channels opens the channels and allows particular ions to flow
across the membrane.
6) As ions flow through the opened channels, the voltage across the
membrane changes. This change in membrane voltage is a
postsynaptic potential. Depending on which ions the channels
admit, the postsynaptic potential may be a depolarization
(excitation) or a hyperpolarization (inhibition). For example, opening
+
+
of
channels allows inflow of
Na
Na , which causes
+
depolarization. However, opening of Cl or K channels causes
hyperpolarization. Opening Cl channels permits Cl to move into
+
the cell, while opening the K channels allows K to move outin
either event, the inside of the cell becomes more negative.
7) When a depolarizing postsynaptic potential reaches thresh- old,
it triggers an action potential in the axon of the postsynaptic
neuron.
TRANSMITTER
1) Acetylcholine
2) Monoamines
a. Catacholamines:
dopamine,
norepinephrine,
epinephrine
b. Serotonin
3) Amino acids: glutamate, GABA and glycine inhibitory
4) Amines- acetylcholine, histamine
5) Polypeptides- enkephalines and endorphins
6) Gases NO, CO

POSTSYNAPTIC POTENTIAL
Interaction of neurotransmitter w their potential can cause
changes in membrane potential. Response to a given
neurotransmitter depends n type of receptor present on the
postsynaptic site.
Neurotransmitter causes either an excitatory or an inhibitory
graded potential. A neurotransmitter that causes
depolarization of the postsynaptic membrane is excitatory
because it brings the membrane closer to threshold. A
depolarizing postsynaptic potential is called an excitatory
postsynaptic potential (EPSP). Although a single EPSP
normally does not initiate a nerve impulse, the postsynaptic
cell does become more excitable. Because it is partially
depolarized, it is more likely to reach threshold when the next
EPSP occurs.

A neurotransmitter that causes hyperpolarization of the


postsynaptic membrane is inhibitory. During hyperpolarization,
generation of an action potential is more difficult than usual
because the membrane potential becomes inside more
negative and thus even farther from threshold than in its
resting state. A hyperpolarizing postsynaptic potential is
termed an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP).
SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL SUMMATION
There are two types of summation: spatial summation and temporal
summation.
Spatial summation is summation of post- synaptic potentials in
response to stimuli that occur at different locations in the
membrane of a postsynaptic cell at the same time. For example,
spatial summation results from the buildup of neurotransmitter
released simultaneously by several presynaptic end bulbs (Figure
12.25a).
Temporal summation is summation of postsynaptic potentials in
response to stimuli that occur at the same location in the membrane
of the postsynaptic cell but at different times. For example, temporal
summation results from buildup of neurotransmitter released by a
single presynaptic end bulb two or more times in rapid succession
(Figure 12.25b).
Because a typical EPSP lasts about 15 msec, the second (and
subsequent) release of neurotransmitter must occur soon after the
first one if temporal summation is to occur.

Summation is rather like a vote on the Internet. Many people voting


yes or no on an issue at the same time can be compared to
spatial summation. One person voting repeatedly and rapidly is like
temporal summation.
Most of the time, spatial and temporal summations are acting
together to influence the chance that a neuron fires an action
potential.
A single postsynaptic neuron receives input from many presynaptic
neurons, some of which release excitatory neurotransmitters and
some of which release inhibitory neurotransmitters. The sum of all
the excitatory and inhibitory effects at any given time determines
the effect on the postsynaptic neuron, which may respond in the
following ways:
1. EPSP. If the total excitatory effects are greater than the total
inhibitory effects but less than the threshold level of stimulation, the
result is an EPSP that does not reach threshold.
Following an EPSP, subsequent stimuli can more easily generate a
nerve impulse through summation because the neuron is partially
depolarized.
2. Nerve impulse(s). If the total excitatory effects are greater than
the total inhibitory effects and threshold is reached, one or more
nerve impulses (action potentials) will be triggered. Impulses
continue to be generated as long as the EPSP is at or above the
threshold level.
3. IPSP. If the total inhibitory effects are greater than the excitatory
effects, the is inhibition of the postsynaptic neuron and an inability
to generate a nerve impulse.
membrane hyperpolarizes (IPSP). The result is inhibition of the
postsynaptic neuron and an inability to generate a nerve impulse.

You might also like