Neuron Synapse
Summary
TLDRThis script explains the process of synaptic transmission in neurons. When an action potential reaches the synaptic terminal, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These chemicals bind to receptors on the post-synaptic neuron, opening ion channels and causing either excitatory (EPSP) or inhibitory (IPSP) post-synaptic potentials. These potentials, which determine neuronal firing, are short-range and typically dissipate after a few millimeters, but they can influence the neuron's decision to generate an action potential.
Takeaways
- đ§ The synapse is a junction where two neurons come close but do not touch, separated by a synaptic cleft.
- âĄïž An action potential reaching the synaptic terminal causes it to release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
- đ Neurotransmitters diffuse across the cleft and bind to specific receptors on the post-synaptic neuron.
- đ Each receptor type binds to a specific neurotransmitter, triggering the opening of ion channels in the post-synaptic membrane.
- đ§ The opening of ion channels allows ions to flow into the post-synaptic neuron, creating a post-synaptic potential (PSP).
- đ Depending on the ion channels opened, PSPs can be excitatory (EPSP) or inhibitory (IPSP), affecting the neuron's likelihood to fire an action potential.
- đŠ Excitatory synapses lead to EPSPs, making the neuron more likely to fire, while inhibitory synapses lead to IPSPs, making it less likely.
- đ« Post-synaptic potentials are short-lived, as ions leak back across the membrane, causing the signal to dissipate after a few millimeters.
- đ PSPs travel to the cell body where they accumulate and determine if an action potential will be generated.
- đ” The script is accompanied by music, suggesting it is part of an educational video aiming to engage the viewer.
Q & A
What is a synapse and what is its function?
-A synapse is a minuscule gap that separates the synaptic terminal of the first neuron from the dendrite or cell body of the second neuron. Its function is to facilitate the transmission of signals from one neuron to another without direct contact.
How does an action potential reaching the synaptic terminal affect the neuron?
-When an action potential reaches the synaptic terminal, it causes the terminal to become positively charged, which triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
What role do neurotransmitters play in the synaptic transmission?
-Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to specific receptors on the post-synaptic neuron, causing ion channels to open and allowing ions to flow across the cell membrane.
What are the two types of post-synaptic potentials and what do they do?
-There are two types of post-synaptic potentials: excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSPs) and inhibitory post-synaptic potentials (IPSPs). EPSPs make a neuron more likely to fire an action potential by making it less negative inside, while IPSPs make it less likely by making it more negative.
What is the difference between an excitatory and an inhibitory synapse?
-An excitatory synapse produces EPSPs, enhancing the likelihood of the post-synaptic neuron firing an action potential. An inhibitory synapse produces IPSPs, reducing the likelihood of the post-synaptic neuron firing an action potential.
How do the specific types of receptors in the post-synaptic membrane contribute to the synaptic transmission?
-Each type of receptor in the post-synaptic membrane binds to a specific type of neurotransmitter, ensuring that the appropriate response is triggered in the post-synaptic neuron.
What happens to the ions that flow into the post-synaptic neuron?
-The ions flow into the post-synaptic neuron along their concentration gradients, creating a post-synaptic potential. However, they eventually leak back across the membrane, and the signal is lost after traveling a short distance.
Why can't post-synaptic potentials travel far in a neuron?
-Post-synaptic potentials cannot travel far because the ions that cause them leak back across the membrane, dissipating the signal after a few millimeters at most.
How do post-synaptic potentials contribute to the generation of an action potential in the cell body?
-Post-synaptic potentials, although they do not travel far, can reach the cell body where they accumulate and determine whether the cell body will produce an action potential.
What is the significance of the concentration gradients in the flow of ions across the cell membrane?
-The concentration gradients drive the flow of ions into or out of the post-synaptic neuron, which is essential for the generation of post-synaptic potentials that influence the neuron's excitability.
Outlines
đ§ Neurotransmission at the Synapse
This paragraph explains the process of neurotransmission at the synapse. When an action potential reaches the synaptic terminal of an axon, it encounters a synapse, a region where two neurons are close but not touching. A tiny gap called the synaptic cleft separates the pre-synaptic neuron's terminal from the post-synaptic neuron's dendrite or cell body. The arrival of the action potential causes the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These neurotransmitters then bind to specific receptors on the post-synaptic neuron, triggering the opening of ion channels and the flow of ions. This flow of ions creates a post-synaptic potential, which can be either excitatory (EPSP), making the neuron more likely to fire an action potential, or inhibitory (IPSP), making it less likely. Synapses are classified as excitatory or inhibitory based on the type of post-synaptic potential they produce. Post-synaptic potentials are limited in their travel distance within a neuron but can reach the cell body to influence whether an action potential is generated.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄAction Potential
đĄSynapse
đĄSynaptic Terminal
đĄNeurotransmitters
đĄSynaptic Cleft
đĄDendrites
đĄPost-Synaptic Neuron
đĄExcitatory Post-Synaptic Potential (EPSP)
đĄInhibitory Post-Synaptic Potential (IPSP)
đĄExcitatory Synapse
đĄInhibitory Synapse
đĄIon Channels
Highlights
An action potential reaching the synaptic terminal of the axon encounters a synapse, where neurons come close but do not touch.
A minuscule gap called a synaptic cleft separates the pre-synaptic neuron from the post-synaptic neuron.
The arrival of an action potential at the synaptic terminal causes it to become positively charged.
Neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft in response to the action potential.
Neurotransmitters diffuse rapidly across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors in the post-synaptic neuron.
Each type of receptor binds to a specific type of neurotransmitter.
Binding of neurotransmitters to receptors causes specific ion channels in the post-synaptic membrane to open.
Ions flow across the cell membrane of the post-synaptic neuron along their concentration gradients.
The flow of ions into the post-synaptic neuron causes a post-synaptic potential.
Synaptic potentials can be excitatory (EPSP) or inhibitory (IPSP), depending on the ion channels and ions involved.
An excitatory synapse produces EPSPs in the post-synaptic cell.
An inhibitory synapse produces IPSPs, making the neuron less likely to fire an action potential.
Post-synaptic potentials cannot travel far in a neuron, typically dissipating after a few millimeters.
Post-synaptic potentials reach the cell body where they determine whether an action potential will be produced.
The process of neurotransmission is crucial for communication between neurons.
The synaptic cleft plays a critical role in the transmission of signals between neurons.
The specificity of neurotransmitter-receptor interactions ensures precise communication in the nervous system.
The balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals is essential for proper neuronal function.
Transcripts
[Music]
when an action potential reaches the
synaptic terminal of the axon it
encounters a region called a synapse
where two neurons come close together
but do not touch one another a minuscule
Gap called a synaptic cleft separates
the synaptic terminal of the first or
pre synaptic neuron from the dendrite or
cell body of the second or post synaptic
neuron the arrival of an action
potential at the synaptic terminal
causes the synaptic terminal to become
positively charged and release
neurotransmitters into the synaptic
Clift the neurotransmitters diffuse
rapidly across the synaptic Clift and
bind The receptors in the membrane the
dendrites or cell body of the post
synaptic
cell each type of receptor in the post
synaptic membrane binds to a specific
type of neurotransmitter and after
binding to a neurotransmitter the
receptor causes specific types of ion
channels in the post synaptic membrane
to open design ion channels are opened
ions flow across the cell membrane of
the post synaptic neuron along their
concentration gradients this flow of
ions into the post synaptic neuron
causes a post synaptic potential in the
dendrites or cell body depending on the
channels open and the ions that flow in
synaptic potentials can be either
excitatory making a neuron less negative
inside and more likely to fire an action
potential or inhibitory making it more
negative and less likely fire an
excitatory post synaptic potential is
called an
epsp an inhibitory post synaptic
potential is called an
ipsp a synapse that produces epsps in
the post synaptic cell is called an
excitatory synapse while a synapse
producing ipsps is an inhibitory synapse
post synaptic potentials cannot travel
far in a neuron after a few millimeters
at most the ions leak back across the
membrane and the signal is lost however
post synaptic potentials travel far
enough to reach the cell body where they
determine whether or not an action
potential will be produced
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