Nerve06/autonomic nervous system and synapses/characteristics of synapses
synaptic delay
Compared to conduction within a neuron, synaptic transmission is a time-consuming process. The time it takes for one synaptic transmission is said to be one millisecond.
fatigue
With repeated synaptic transmission, decrease in the transmitter and efficiency of transmission may take place. With such 'fatigue' an action potential arriving at the pre-synaptic membrane, may not be able to elicit action potential in the post-synaptic membrane.
synaptic potentiation
With repeated synaptic transmission, increase in the transmitter, post-synaptic membrane and efficiency of transmission may take place. With such 'potentiation' an action potential arriving at the pre-synaptic membrane, may elicit many action potentials in the post-synaptic membrane.
one-way
At synapses, pre and post are determined. It is a one-way mechanism.
sensitive to drug effects
Challenge Quiz
At synapses, transmission is one-way true false
At synapses, because of chemical transmission, the speed, compared to conduction is fast slow .
If, after the first action potential arriving at the pre-synaptic membrane, there was one action potential generated in the post-synaptic membrane, and after the second action potential arriving at the pre-synaptic membrane, there were two action potentials generated in the post-synaptic membrane, potentiation fatigue took place.
If, after the first action potential arriving at the pre-synaptic membrane, there was one action potential generated in the post-synaptic membrane, and after the second action potential arriving at the pre-synaptic membrane, there were no action potential generated in the post-synaptic membrane, potentiation fatigue took place.
Synapses have high low sensitivity to drugs.
Pre-synaptic membrane is located at nerve ending neuronal cell body dendrites .