Synaptic Transmission in Cellular Neuroscience

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to synaptic transmission, neurotransmitter mechanisms, and neuronal communication, based on the lecture notes from the Cellular Neuroscience course.

Synaptic Transmission

The process by which neurons communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signals.

Ion Channels

Proteins that allow ions to flow across the cell membrane, facilitating ion flux along electrochemical gradients.

Electrical Synapse

A type of synapse where the cytoplasm of pre- and postsynaptic cells is connected by gap junctions, allowing for rapid transmission of signals.

Chemical Synapse

A synapse that requires neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic neuron, where neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft and interact with receptors on the postsynaptic cell.

Exocytosis

The process by which neurotransmitter-filled vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane to release their contents into the synaptic cleft.

End Plate Potential (EPP)

The potential recorded from a muscle fiber at the neuromuscular junction resulting from the release of acetylcholine.

Quantal Release

The release of neurotransmitters in discrete packets, or quanta, where each packet represents a specific amount of neurotransmitter.

Ligand-gated Ion Channels

Receptors that open in response to the binding of a neurotransmitter, allowing ions to flow across the membrane.

G-protein-coupled receptors

Receptors that, when activated by a ligand, initiate signaling cascades through the activation of G-proteins.

Endocytosis

The process by which the cell membrane engulfs external material, recycling vesicles back into the cell.