MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY

PHYSIOLOGY

SYNAPTIC PHYSIOLOGY

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Neural transmission across a synaptic cleft is accomplished by:
A
the movement of sodium & potassium from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron.
B
impulses traveling as electrical currents across the gap.
C
impulses causing the release of a neurotransmitter signal and its diffusion across the gap.
D
impulses ricocheting back and forth across the gap.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Neurons talk to each other across synapses. When an action potential reaches the presynaptic terminal, it causes neurotransmitter to be released from the neuron into the synaptic cleft, a 20–40nm gap between the presynaptic axon terminal and the postsynaptic dendrite (often a spine).

Detailed explanation-2: -Assertion: Transmission of the nerve impulse across a synapse is accomplished by neurotransmitters. Reason: Transmission across a synapse usually requires neurotransmitters because there is small space i.e. synaptic cleft, that separates one neuron from another.

Detailed explanation-3: -As a result of the action potential, the chemical transmitter acetylcholine (ACh) is released into the synaptic cleft. ACh diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to special receptors on the postsynaptic or the postjunctional membrane.

There is 1 question to complete.