NERVOUS SYSTEM 3

Get it Across your Synapse Gap

RECALL

There are 2 steps to neuron communication:

1. Action Potentials: Propagate (send) signals
along the axon within a neuron
2. Neurotransmitters: Continue the signal to
the next neuron from 1 neuron to the 2nd
neuron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90cj4NX87Yk

When the electrical impulse gets to the end of the

axon, it cannot make the jump across to the next
neuron.
Therefore neurons need another system to
communicate with each other.
The gap between a neuron is called a synapse.

 Synapse

- regions between neurons or

between neurons and effectors

Presynaptic

neuron - neurons that

carry impulses to the synapse (release
transmitter chemicals that stimulate the
depolarization of the postsynaptic
neurons)

 Postsynaptic

neurons - take signals

away from the synapse

The

more synapses involved in a neuronal

pathway, the slower the speed of
transmission over a specified distance
(think about verbal communication as a
metaphor)

How

many synapses do reflex arcs have?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5zFgT4aofA

*NEUROTRANSMITTERS
The

chemical messengers that cross the synapse

are called a neurotransmitter

Some

neurotransmitters are excitatory (go!)

Some

neurotransmitters are inhibitory (stop!)

MAIN CHEMICAL TRANSMITTER

(THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT EXAMPLE...BE SURE
YOU KNOW THIS! PUT 5 STARS IN YOUR NOTES)
****acetylcholine

- released from
vesicles in the end plates of
neurons, makes the postsynaptic
membranes more permeable to
sodium ions

This

is excitatory!

 If

you have a huge surge of acetylcholine,

you will go into cramps because you are
exciting the system too much. Eventually
you have to stop this message from being
delivered.

So

along comes **cholinesterase enzyme released after acetylcholine,

destroys acetylcholine thus closing the
postsynaptic sodium channels

*SOME NEUROTRANSMITTERS YOU MUST

BE FAMILIAR WITH
Acetylcholine

excitatory/ inhibitory
Norepinephrine excitatory/inhibitory
Dopamine generally excitatory
Serotonin generally inhibitory
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
inhibitory

Complete

notes

the activity in your

NEURAL PATHWAYS
Some pathways require more than one neuron to
fire in order for a message to be sent.
This is called summation.

*Summation: effect produced by the accumulation

of neurotransmitters from 2 or more neurons.
Look on page 422 for an example.

PRACTICE
What will happen if:
only neuron A fires?
only neuron B fires?
only neuron C fires?
A and B fire?
A and C fire?
all three fire?

BUT WE ARE TOO SMART FOR OUR OWN

GOOD

We have discovered ways to abuse our own

system.
Drugs can mimic our neurotransmitters or
interfere with normal synapse function and we
find this pleasurable.
In fact we can become ADDICTED.

*2 MAJOR TYPES OF DRUGS

Stimulants

Depressants

Mimics

Blocks

neurotransmitter &
Stimulates receptor
Decreases rate of
breakdown or
diffusion of
neurotransmitter
Increases rate of
release of the
neurotransmitter

receptor site
- normal
neurotransmitter
Decreases synthesis
and storage of
neurotransmitter
Increases rate of
breakdown of
neurotransmitter

CASE STUDY: DRUGS AND THE SYNAPSE

In a group of 2-3, use a mini whiteboard to
answer questions:
# 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8

HINTS
Mouse Party Computer Lab
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/addic
tion/drugs/mouse.html
Book pg 423

LSD
Cocaine
Alcohol
Methamphetamines
Marijuana

Ecstacy
Heroine

DRAW WITH ME A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF

A SYNAPSE

Include the following:

Pre-synaptic neuron
Post-synaptic neuron
Axon
Dendrite
Synaptic cleft
Synaptic vesicles
Pre synaptic membrane
Post synaptic membrane
Receptors

TO DO:
Synapse Diagram
Chapter Questions