Synapse

• Starter activity

• Draw a labelled graph explaining the process of

the action potential
Action potential
 Synapse
• Learning objectives

• Describe the structure and function of a

synapse
• Understand the role of acetylcholine as a
transmitter substance
• Distinguish between the post-synaptic
potentials
 Synapse
• A synapse is a specialised junction
between 2 neurones where the nerve
impulse is passed from one neurone
to another
• There are 2 types of synapse in the
nervous system (electrical and
chemical)
• An electrical synapse can only be
effective when neurones are very
close together (2nm)
 Electrical synapse
• http://www.hypnosisforyou.com/brains/electric00
 Chemical synapse
• In the chemical synapses, is when an impulse from the (presynaptic) neurone triggers a
chemical transmitter substance which is binds to the (postsynaptic) neurone.

• As the action potential reaches the synaptic knob, this allows the calcium channels to open
allow the Ca+ to diffuse into the knob
• Increase of Ca+ concentrations stimulates the movements of vesicles containing the
neurotransmitter (acetylcholine) to the presynaptic membrane
• The mitochondria will generate energy (ATP) which will contribute to the production of the
transmitter substance and also assists in the movement of the vesicles
• The vesicles (contain 10,000 neurotransmitter molecules) then fuse with the membrane and
release the neurotransmitter by exocytosis into the synaptic cleft
• The transmitter substance then quickly diffuses across the synaptic cleft and will then bind to
the receptors on the postsynaptic membrane which then open certain ion channels in the
membrane
• The movement of ions (Na+, K+, or Cl-) in or out of the postsynaptic neurone results in the
generation of a (postsynaptic potential)
• Postsynaptic potential will depend upon the which ions are moving and the build up of ions
• There are 2 types of postsynaptic potentials
• Excitatory postsynaptic potential occurs when the membrane has been depolarised (building up
of a positive charge from -70mV to the firing level -55mV)
• Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials occurs when the membrane has been hyperpolarised (building
up of a negative charge so it is further away from the firing level)
• Finally the transmitter substance is quickly removed from the receptors by diffusion and by
enzymes and make the transmitter substance into inactive products
• It is very important that the transmitters are removed so it can maintain the nerve impulse (if left
in the neuromuscular junction the region would be kept at the postsynaptic potential and cause
the loss of muscle control, rather than returning it to the resting potential)
 Neurotransmitter
• The chemical compound acetylcholine (Ach),
was the first neurotransmitter to be identified. It
is a chemical transmitter in both the peripheral
nervous system (neuromuscular junctions) and
central nervous system (brain). Acetylcholine is
one of many neurotransmitters in the
autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the only
neurotransmitter used in the somatic nervous
system (SNS). Acetylcholine is the
neurotransmitter in all autonomic ganglia
Acetylcholine (Ach)