Synapses
- is a physical and functional gap which occur between one neuron and the other and muscle or neuron and gland which serves the purpose of electrical or chemical transmission of impulses
- contains the end of presynaptic neuron + synaptic cleft + end of postsynaptic neuron
Mechanism of synaptic transmission
- action potential arrives at presynaptic neuron
- stimulates opening of voltage-gated channels for Ca2+
- Ca2+ diffuse into cytoplasm of presynaptic membrane
- Ca2+ cause vesicles containing acetylcholine (ACh – a type of neurotransmitter) move towards the presynaptic membrane
- Vesicle fuses with the membrane, Ach is released and diffuses across the synaptic cleft
- Ach temporarily binds to receptor proteins on the postsynaptic membrane; causes chemically-gated ion channels for Na+ to open
- Na+ diffuse through postsynaptic membrane à depolarizes membrane à generates action potential
- Recycling of Ach, catalyzed by acetylcholinsterase (stops continuous production of action potentials)
- acetylcholine → acetate + choline
- choline moves back into the presynaptic neuron.
- choline + acetyl coenzymeA → acetylcholine
- ACh transported back to presynaptic vesicles
Q/A Explain the mechanism of transmission of a nerve impulse across a cholinegic synapse
Logical sequence of events is very important when explaining a mechanism
- arrival of an impulse
- Depolarization of presynaptic membrane
- opening if calcium channels
- increase in membrane permeability to Ca2+
- rushing of Ca2+ into presynaptic knob
- synaptic vesicle fuse with presynaptic cleft(by exocytosis)
- acetylcholine released into synaptic cleft
- attaches to a receptor on the post synaptic membrane
- entry of Na+
- depolarization of membrane
Functions of synapses
- ensures one-way transmission: neurotransmitters are only released on one side of synapse;
receptors on the other side of synapse - allow connection of nerve pathways
- integration of impulses
- involved in memory making and learning
- Decreases the overload of information in the brain