Synaps

Department of Physiology
School of Medicine
University of Sumatera Utara
 Synaps
• A specialized junction where transmission
of information takes place between a
nerve fibre and another nerve cell, or
between a nerve fibre and a muscle or
gland cell
• Junctions between neurons at which
information is passed from one neuron
(presynaptic neuron) to another
(postsynaptic neuron)
• Synapses serve as one-way
communication devices, transmitting
information in one direction only, from the
fibre ending to the next cell.
Synapse
• Junction between neuron and
effector (muscle or gland)
usually called neuroeffector
junction (NEJ)
– neuromuscular junction (NMJ)
• neuron to muscle
– neuroglandular junction (NGJ)
• neuron to gland Junctions
between neurons at which
information is passed from one
neuron (presynaptic neuron) to
another (postsynaptic neuron)
 Structure of Distal End of Axon
• telodendria – terminal branches of axon
– allow axon to contact more than one cell or
one cell in several places
• axonal terminals = synaptic end bulbs
– contain neurotransmitter (or gap junctions)
• synaptic cleft – space between
presynaptic and postsynaptic
membranes
 Synapse Locations
Based on locations, most common are:
• axodentritic = axon (presynaptic) to
dendrite (postsynaptic)
• axosomatic = axon (presynaptic) to
cell body, or soma (postsynaptic)
• axoaxonic = axon (presynaptic) to
axon or axon hillock (less common
than the other 2)
 Types of Synapses
Defined by:
1. location: where signal comes from (e.g., axon)
to where it goes (e.g., dendrite, muscle)
2. how signal is transferred
a. based on location:
– neuron-neuron
– neuron-muscle
– neuron-gland
– neuron-vessel
b. based on method of information transfer:
– electrical synapses
– chemical synapses
based on location: neuron-neuron
based on location: neuron-muscle
based on location: neuron-gland
based on location: neuron-vessel
based on method of information transfer:
Electrical Synapses

• less common type of synapse

• joined by gap junctions
• cells said to be “electrically coupled”
• very rapid transmission
• excitatory only
• allow bi-directional flow
based on method of information transfer:
Electrical Synapses

• importance:
– allow synchronization of neuronal firing
(important to stereotypical behavior)
– important during development of nervous
system (later, most replaced by chemical
synapses)

• also present in visceral smooth muscle,

cardiac muscle
based on method of information transfer:
Electrical Synapses

At electrical synapses, which are

relatively rare in vertebrates, the
membranes of the two cells are in
tight contact, producing electrical
coupling, which enables a nerve
impulse (or action potential) arriving
at the presynaptic nerve ending to
pass to the next cell.
based on method of information transfer:
Electrical Synapses
based on method of information transfer:
Chemical synapses
Chemical synapses are more complex,
because the presynaptic and postsynaptic
cells are physically separated by a minute
gap (the synaptic cleft), which prevents
simple electrical transmission of the action
potential to the postsynaptic cell. Instead,
transmission is accomplished by the
release of a chemical neurotransmitter
substance from the presynaptic fibre.
based on method of information transfer:
Chemical synapses
• axonal terminal of presynaptic neuron
releases neurotransmitter (NT) from synaptic
vesicle into synaptic cleft
• postsynaptic membrane (of neuron or
effector) contains receptors that recognize
NT
• slower than electrical
• unidirectional (one way)
• inhibitory or excitatory
• found at:
– most neuron-neuron synapses
– neuroeffector junctions
based on method of information transfer:
Chemical synapses
 Events at Chemical Synapse
1. impulse within presynaptic neuron reaches axon terminal,
depolarizes membrane  voltage-gated Na+ and Ca2+ channels
open in presynaptic membrane --> Ca2+ enters cell

2. entrance of Ca2+ into cell signals synaptic vesicles to fuse with

axonal plasma membrane
 for release of NT into synaptic cleft (exocytosis)
Events at Chemical Synapse
3. NT diffuses across synaptic cleft
4. NT binds to its specific receptor on postsynpatic membrane
5. ion channels open in postsynpatic membrane allowing ion
movement
Events at Chemical Synapse
 Postsynaptic Potentials and
Synaptic Integration
• transmission from presynaptic to
postsynaptic neuron is excitatory or
inhibitory depending on type of NT
released
– each presynaptic neuron releases either
excitatory NT or inhibitory NT
• postsynpatic membranes normally
dendrite or cell body (soma or
perikaryon)
 Postsynaptic Potentials and
Synaptic Integration
• reaction of receptors to NTs is graded,
response depends on number of
receptors involved (which depends on
amount of NT released)
– excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs)
– inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs)
 Excitatory Synapses and EPSPs
• binding of NT released
by presynaptic
membrane to receptor
(on postsynaptic
membrane) causes
opening of membrane
channels that allow
both Na+ and K+ to
diffuse across
postsynaptic
membrane
Excitatory Synapses and EPSPs
• because more Na+ enters
than K+ leaves
 net depolarization
• local graded excitatory
postsynaptic potential
(EPSP)
• if EPSP is sufficiently large,
may spread to axon hillock
leading to AP
 Inhibitory Synapses and IPSPs
• binding of NT released by
presynaptic membrane
to receptor (on
postsynaptic membrane)
causes opening of
membrane channels that
allow K+ to diffuse out of
post-synaptic cell, or Cl-
to diffuse in, or both
• causes hyperpolarization
 Modification of Synaptic Events
Temporal summation
• 1 or more presynaptic neurons fire before 1st
EPSP fades
• if summed EPSP is large enough, then get AP
 Modification of Synaptic Events
Spatial summation
• large number of axonal terminals from different
neurons or the same neuron fire at the same time
• if EPSP is large enough, then get AP
 Spatial Summation EPSP and IPSP
• IPSP and EPSP have opposite effects
• if only IPSPs occur, postsynaptic membrane
becomes hyperpolarized
– effects of IPSP may be temporally or spatially
summed
• usually IPSPs prevent membrane from becoming as
depolarized as it would with only EPSPs
 Synaptic Potentiation and Facilitation
• synaptic potentiation: presynaptic
axonal terminal that has received
repeated (in short period of time) or
continuous stimulation contains more
intracellular Ca2+ than normal triggers
greater release of NT into synaptic cleft
produces larger EPSP in postsynaptic
cell (important in memory and learning
processes)
• facilitation: postsynaptic neuron that
has been partially depolarized is more
likely to undergo AP,
 Organization of Neurons:
Types of Circuits
• Simple series circuit
• Converging circuit
• Diverging circuit
• Reverberating (oscillatory) circuit
• Parallel after-discharge circuit
 Simple Series Circuit
• one presynaptic neuron goes to one
postsynaptic neuron; e.g., simple reflex
arc presynaptic

synapses

postsynaptic
 Converging Circuits
• several presynaptic
axonal terminals go to
single postsynaptic
neuron (output)
• input from several
pathways produces
single result
• e.g., voluntary vs sub-
conscious breathing;
“happy baby”
 Diverging Circuits
• one presynaptic neuron --> several postsynaptic
neurons
• e.g., single motor neuron from brain may go to
several motor neurons in spinal cord (thence to
several muscle fibers)
e.g., single sensory neuron to CNS may be part of
reflex but also send info to brain
Reverberating (Oscillatory) Circuits
• chain of neurons with synapses to
neurons earlier in circuit
– sleep-wake cycle
– breathing
– possibly short-term memory
– some motor activities (arm swinging)
Parallel After-Discharge Circuit
• one presynaptic neuron fires to several
postsynaptic neurons arranged in
parallel that eventually result in
common output
• many different responses occur
simultaneously
– may be involved in problem solving