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Neurons, Synaptic Transmission and Neurotransmitters - Coggle Diagram
Neurons, Synaptic Transmission and Neurotransmitters
Neurons
Structure of a neurone:
Round the outside of this are branch-like dendrites which pick up information from other cells and turn it into an electric signal.
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This electrical charge travels down the axon, which is the long "tail" of the cell
Electrical charge gets to the axon terminals. These terminals pass the information on to the dendrites of the next cell in the chain.
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Sensory neurons transmit information about the 5 senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) from your sense organs themselves to the rest of the brain
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Synapse
The axon terminals use the electrical energy to produce chemicals called neurotransmitters. These chemical float across the synaptic gap until they are picked up by special receptors on the dendrite on the other side of the gap. Then they are converted back into an electrical charge which zooms down the next neuron and the process is repeated.
Neurotransmitters that don't attach themselves to a receptor at the other end are recycled to be used again. This is called re-uptake.
If reuptake is prevented (inhibited), then the neurotransmitter will stay longer in the synapse, trying to pass on its message.
Other drugs work by attaching to receptors and "blocking" them so that neurotransmitters cannot attach themselves and get re-uptaken instead.
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are vital because, without them, neurons could not communicate. There are different neurotransmitters that have different functions. Each neurotransmitter attaches to its own type of receptor on the dendrite and is recycled (re-uptaken) by different chemicals.
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Neurotransmitters are fast-acting, taking less than a millisecond to take effect. The speed of neurotransmitters is the speed of thought.
Receptors on post synaptic neuron are designed to bind to a specific neurotransmitter and once detected is absorbed.
Unabsorbed molecules left in synaptic gap will be destroyed by enzymes or will be reabsorbed by pre synaptic neuron
Action Potential
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When it is received more excitatory than inhibitory an action potential is triggered and sent along the axon
Synaptic Transmission
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Process:
- Action potential reaches axon terminal.
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- Flood terminal are filled with calcium ions.
- Vesicles will be released.
- Travel to the outer membrane of the neuron.
- Casing of vesicles fuses with post synaptic membrane.
- Neurotransmitters are released to post synaptic neuron.