BIOM 3200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Myosin Light-Chain Kinase, Actin, Neuromuscular Junction

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Biomedical Sciences
• Course: BIOM 3200
• Professor: Laura Fauvetta

Document Summary

Describe the stages of neuron impulse transmission for both chemical and electrical synapses; An electrical synapse is a direct conduction of action potential from one cell to the next. The cell membranes of the two neurons are very close together (2nm) allowing for channels formed by connexins to exist between them. These channels allow for movements of ions and molecules from one cell to the next. A chemical synapse is more prevalent than electrical synapses in the nervous system. When an action potential reaches the terminal bouton, it sets about a cascade which leads to the exocytosis of neurotransmitter vesicles. Once the neurotransmitters are released, they cross the synaptic cleft to bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell. This causes specific ion channels to open and can lead to either excitatory postsynaptic potentials (epsp) or inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (ipsp) in the postsynaptic cell. Identify members of the following classes of neurotransmitters; choline derivatives, amines, amino acids and neuropeptides;