SYNAPTIC POTENTIALS Meaning and
Definition
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Synaptic potentials refer to changes in the electrical potential (voltage) across a synapse, which is the junction between two neurons or between a neuron and a muscle cell. Synaptic potentials are the fundamental mechanism by which neurons communicate and transmit information within the nervous system.
There are two types of synaptic potentials: excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (IPSPs). EPSPs are depolarizing events that make the postsynaptic neuron more likely to generate an action potential, while IPSPs are hyperpolarizing events that make the postsynaptic neuron less likely to generate an action potential.
EPSPs occur when neurotransmitter molecules released from the presynaptic neuron bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, leading to the opening of specific ion channels. This allows positively charged ions, such as sodium (Na+), to enter the postsynaptic neuron, thereby depolarizing its membrane potential.
IPSPs, on the other hand, occur when neurotransmitter molecules released from the presynaptic neuron bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, causing the opening of ion channels that allow negatively charged ions, such as chloride (Cl-), to enter or positively charged ions, such as potassium (K+), to exit the postsynaptic neuron. This increases the negativity of the membrane potential, making it more difficult for the neuron to generate an action potential.
The integration of EPSPs and IPSPs at the postsynaptic neuron determines whether it will reach the threshold for firing an action potential. If the excitatory inputs outweigh the inhibitory inputs, the neuron is more likely to generate an action potential, while if the inhibitory inputs outweigh the excitatory inputs, the neuron is less likely to generate
Common Misspellings for SYNAPTIC POTENTIALS
- aynaptic potentials
- zynaptic potentials
- xynaptic potentials
- dynaptic potentials
- eynaptic potentials
- wynaptic potentials
- stnaptic potentials
- sgnaptic potentials
- shnaptic potentials
- sunaptic potentials
- s7naptic potentials
- s6naptic potentials
- sybaptic potentials
- symaptic potentials
- syjaptic potentials
- syhaptic potentials
- synzptic potentials
- synsptic potentials
- synwptic potentials
- synqptic potentials
Etymology of SYNAPTIC POTENTIALS
The word "synaptic" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis", which means "junction" or "connection". "Synapsis" was later adapted by the German biologist Wilhelm His in the late 19th century to describe the junction between nerve cells. The term "potential" in the context of neuroscience refers to an electrical charge or voltage difference across a membrane. Therefore, "synaptic potentials" refers to the electrical potentials or voltages that occur at the synapses, which are the junctions between neurons where information is transmitted.
