Lecture 4: Synaptic Transmission & PNS

Friday 5/3

 

Synaptic Transmission Guiding Questions

  • Describe the sequence of events that occurs when glutamate is released from the presynaptic cell. How do these events lead to LTP?
  • Describe the structure of the synapse of the neuromuscular junction.
    • What is the neurotransmitter released from a somatic motor neuron?
    • What is the receptor on the muscle cell? Does triggering this receptor with neurotransmitter trigger a fast response or a slow response?
    • Describe the sequence of events that occurs when an action potential reaches the axon terminal of a somatic motor neuron.
    • How is synaptic transmission terminated at a neuromuscular junction?
    • What is AChE and what does it do at the synaptic cleft?
  • What is an agonist and how does it affect synaptic transmission? Give examples of both direct and indirect agonists.
  • What is an antagonist and how does it affect synaptic transmission? Give examples of both direct and indirect antagonist
  • Explain how GABA work to inhibit post-synaptic cell response.
    • How would blocking GABA receptors affect response in the post-synaptic cell?
    • Hint, remember our in-class handout!
  • Make a list of all of the ion channels we have discussed. Make sure you indicate where you find the channel, how it is gated, which way ions will travel through it and their effect on membrane potential and when it is used.
    • Make a list of all of the neurotransmitter-receptor pairs we have discussed. Make sure you indicate where the neurotransmitters are used and how they are regulated
    • Hint, we did a lot of this in our in-class handouts!

 

Peripheral Nervous System Guiding Questions

  • Describe the organization of the nervous system.
    • Be sure to use the following terms: efferent neurons, afferent neurons, sensory receptors, autonomic neurons, somatic motor neurons, parasympathetic neurons, sympathetic neurons, somatic motor neurons, skeletal muscles, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system.
  • What does the somatic motor division of the efferent nervous system control?
    • Describe the structure, target, neurotransmitter and receptor and enzyme used in the somatic motor division.
  • What are the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
    • What are the targets of the autonomic nervous system?
    • How are pre and postganglionic neurons similar and different in the sympathetic vs parasympathetic divisions?
    • Describe how the two divisions of the autonomic nervous system maintain homeostasis through antagonistic control.
    • Give several examples of antagonistic control carried out by the autonomic nervous system.
    • Describe how the preganglionic neuron and the postganglionic neurons are arranged in the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
  • What neurotransmitter-receptor pair is used in the autonomic ganglion of BOTH divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
    • How are the postganglionic autonomic synapses similar and different than the synapses in the neuromuscular junction?
    • Hint, a lot of this work is summarized by your in-class handout!
  • In the sympathetic division, what neurotransmitter-receptor pair is used in the ganglion? What about at the postganglionic synapse?
    • Give several examples of how the parasympathetic system affects different tissues (for example, how does it affect heart rate, salivation, rate of digestion, airways)
    • Describe how different types of adrenergic receptors can cause different responses to the same neurotransmitter.
      • As an example, explain how this works to modulate the diameter of arteries in the digestive system and blood vessels in the skeletal muscles during a systemic sympathetic response.
      • Hint, this is summarized in your in-class handout!
    • You can review the adrenal medulla material (it will be relevant in 40C as well), but note I won’t ask you any questions about it!
  • In the parasympathetic division, what neurotransmitter-receptor pair is used in the ganglion? What about at the postganglionic synapse?
    • Compare and contrast nicotinic receptors and muscarinic receptors.
    • Give several examples of how the parasympathetic system affects different tissues (for example, how does it affect heart rate, salivation, rate of digestion, airways)
    • Again, this is summarized by our in-class activity!

 

 

See you next week! If you haven't already, please start taking a look at Week 5's module. Please note that Exam 1 is next Thursday!

Have a nice rest of your week & weekend,

Dr. Y