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Functions and Properties of Synapse, Reflex

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Anupam Mittal

The document discusses the functions and properties of synapses and reflexes. It describes different types of synapses including chemical and electrical synapses. It also explains concepts like summation, synaptic transmission properties, and reflex arcs.

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Functions and Properties of Synapse, Reflex

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Anupam Mittal
43 views28 pages
The document discusses the functions and properties of synapses and reflexes. It describes different types of synapses including chemical and electrical synapses. It also explains concepts like summation, synaptic transmission properties, and reflex arcs.

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Functions and Properties of Synapse, Reflex Source- Guyton and Hall, Physiology

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The document discusses the functions and properties of synapses and reflexes. It describes different types of synapses including chemical and electrical synapses. It also explains concepts like summation, synaptic transmission properties, and reflex arcs.

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© All Rights Reserved
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Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
43 views28 pages

Functions and Properties of Synapse, Reflex

Uploaded by

Anupam Mittal
The document discusses the functions and properties of synapses and reflexes. It describes different types of synapses including chemical and electrical synapses. It also explains concepts like summation, synaptic transmission properties, and reflex arcs.

Copyright:

© All Rights Reserved
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Functions and

properties of
synapse, Reflex
Dr. Anupam Mittal
MBBS, MD
KGMU, Lucknow
Synapse
• The  point at which the nerve
impulse passes from one to another
is the synapse.

• In the CNS, this other cell is also a


neuron

• In the PNS, the other cell may be


either a neuron or an effector cell
within a muscle or gland
TYPES OF SYNAPSES
1. CHEMICAL

2. ELECTRICAL
A. Chemical Synapse

• Mostly found in CNS

• Impulse transmission found in CNS, is carried by


Neurotransmitter (Chemical)

• Either excite the neuron, inhibit it, or modify its sensitivity

• Example of Neurotransmitter : Acetylcholine, norepinephrine,


epinephrine and other

• “One- Way” Conduction : Chemical Synapses


B. Electrical Synapse
• Mostly found in gap junctions of smooth muscle

• Allow free movement of ions from the one cell to next


cell
Typical anterior motor neuron in the anterior horn of the
spinal cord

It is composed of three major parts —

 The soma

 A single axon

 Dendrites
• Presynaptic neurons release neurotransmitters into the
synapse to trigger graded potentials in post-synaptic neurons

• Some generate excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSPs)

• Others produce inhibitory post-synaptic potentials (IPSPs)


• EPSPs trigger depolarisation in the post-
synaptic membrane, IPSPs trigger
hyperpolarisation in the post-synaptic
membrane

• If the combination of signals reaches a


threshold level, an action potential will be
triggered in the post-synaptic neuron
Summation

• The combination of graded potentials in the


post-synaptic neuron is known as summation
Types of Summation

1. Spatial

2. Temporal
“Spatial Summation” in Neurons
— Threshold for Firing
• Summing simultaneous postsynaptic potentials by activating
multiple terminals on widely spaced areas of the neuronal
membrane is called spatial summation
“Temporal Summation” Caused by Successive
Discharges of a Presynaptic Terminal

• The more rapid the rate of stimulation, the greater the


postsynaptic potential become

• Successive discharges from a single presynaptic terminal, if


they occur rapidly enough, can add to one another; that is,
they can summate. This type of summation is called
temporal summation
Properties of
SYNAPTIC
TRANSMISSION
1. One-way conduction :

• Impulses are transmitted only in one direction in


synapse

• (From pre to post Neuron)

• Not vice-versa
2. Synaptic Delay
During the transmission of impulses via synapses there is short delay in
the transmission.

Is due to time taken by,


1) Discharge of the transmitter substance by the presynaptic terminal;
2) Diffusion of the transmitter to the postsynaptic neuronal membrane;
3) Action of the transmitter on the membrane receptor;
4) Action of the receptor to increase the membrane permeability; and
5) Inward diffusion of sodium to raise the EPSP to a high enough level to
elicit an action potential
3. Fatiguability

• When synapses are continuously stimulated, after


some time, due to exhaustion of neurotransmitter at
presynaptic terminals, impulses fail to get conducted.

• This results in fatigue occurring at level of synapse.

• Fatigue is temporary phenomenon.


4. Convergence and Divergence

Convergence:

• Allows a neuron to receive input from many neurons in


network.

Divergence:

• Allows one neuron to communicate with many other


neurons in a network.
4. Summation

• The addictive effect of several electrical impulses


on neuromuscular junction

• Individually the stimuli can not evoke a response,


but collectively they can generate a response
5. Excitation or Inhibition

• The impulse conduction across a synapse may


either stimulate or inhibit activity of post neuron
6. Synaptic Facilitation

• It is a form of short-term plasticity that enhances


synaptic transmission for less than a second
Reflexes
Coordinated
Involuntary motor response
Initiated by stimulus
Applied to peripheral receptor
Reflex Arc

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