SYNAPSE

DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION

• It is classified by 2 methods:

A. Anatomical classification

B. Functional classification

ØANATOMICAL CLASSIFICATION

• It is formed by axon of one neuron ending on the cell body, dendrite or axon of the next
neuron.

• Depending upon the ending of the axon, synapse is classified into three types:
1. Axoaxonic synapse in which axon of one neuron terminates on axon of another neuron.

2. Axodendritic synapse in which the axon of one neuron terminates on dendrite of

3. Axosomatic synapse in which axon of one neuron ends on soma (cell body) of another
neuron.
ØFUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION

• It is classified on the basis of mode of impulse transmission.

1. Electrical synapse

2. Chemical synapse

• However the word synapse generally refers to a chemical synapse.

1. Electrical synapse

• It is the synapse in which the physiological continuity between the presynaptic and the
postsynaptic neuron is provided by a gap junction between the 2 neurons and there is direct
exchange of ions between the 2 neurons due to which the synaptic delay is very less.
• This type of impulse transmission occurs in some tissues like the cardiac muscle fibers,
smooth muscle fibers of intestine and the epithelial cells of lens in the eye.
2. Chemical synapse

• It is the junction between a nerve fiber and a muscle fiber or between 2 nerve fibers,
through which the signals are transmitted by the release of chemical transmitter.

• In the chemical synapse, there is no continuity between the 2 neurons because of the
presence of a space called the synaptic cleft between the 2 neurons.

• Action potential reaching the presynaptic terminal causes release of neurotransmitter

• Neuron from which the axon arises is called the presynaptic neuron and the neuron on
which the axon ends is called postsynaptic neuron.
• Structure of axon terminals and presynaptic membrane

• Presynaptic axon terminal has definite intact membrane known as presynaptic membrane.

• Axon terminal has 2 important structure:

1. Mitochondria, which help in the synthesis of neurotransmitter substance.

2. Synaptic vesicles, which stores neurotransmitter substance.

• Synaptic cleft and postsynaptic membrane

• Membrane of the postsynaptic neuron is called postsynaptic membrane. It contains some

• The basal lamina of the synaptic cleft contains cholinesterase, which destroys acetylcholine.
 FUNCTIONS OF SYNAPSE
• Based on the function synapse is divided into 2 types:

1. Excitatory synapse, which transmits the impulse

2. Inhibitory synapse, which inhibit the transmission of impulse

ØEXCITATORY FUNCTION

• Excitatory post synaptic potential (EPSP)

• It is the non-propagative electrical potential that develops during the process of synaptic
transmission.
PRESYNAPTIC NEURON

Arrival of action potential in the presynaptic axon terminal Opening of the voltage
gated Ca channel influx of Ca ions from ECF into the axon terminal

opening of the vesicles and release of neurotransmitters through exocytosis

Passage of Ach through the synaptic cleft

POSTSYNAPTIC NEURON

Formation of Ach receptor complex opening of Na channels and influx of Na ions

This type of mild depolarization is called EPSP, which is a local potential in the synapse.
ØINHIBITORY FUNCTION

• It is classified into 5 types:

1. Postsynaptic or direct inhibition

2. Presynaptic or indirect inhibition

3. Negative feedback or Renshaw cell inhibition feedforward inhibition

4. Reciprocal inhibition.
• Pre- and post-synaptic inhibition

• Presynaptic inhibition occurs due to the failure of presynaptic axon terminal to release
sufficient quantity of excitatory neuro transmitter substance.

• Postsynaptic inhibition is the type of synaptic inhibition that occurs due to release of an
inhibitory neurotransmitter (GABA – gamma-aminobutyric acid) from presynaptic
terminal instead of an excitatory neurotransmitter substance.
• Renshaw cell or negative feedback inhibition

• It is the type of synaptic inhibition, which is caused by Renshaw cells in spinal cord.

• Renshaw cells are small motor neurons present in anterior grey horn of the spinal cord.

• When motor neurones send motor impulses, some of the impulses reach renshaw cell by
passing through collaterals.

• The renshaw cell gets stimulated and in turn sends inhibitory impulses to alpha motor
neurons, so that the Discharged from the motor neuron is reduced.

• In this way, Renshaw cell inhibition represents a Negative feedback mechanism.

• It occurs in cerebellum and it controls the neuronal activity in cerebellum.

• During the process of neuronal activity in cerebellum, stellate cells and basket cells,
which are activated by granule cells, inhibit the purkinje cells by releasing GABA.

• Reciprocal inhibition

• Inhibition of antagonist muscle when a group of muscles are activated is called reciprocal
inhibition.

• ***** Synaptic inhibition in CNS limits the number of impulses going to muscles and
enables the muscle to act properly and appropriately.
 PROPERTIES OF SYNAPSE
1. ONE WAY CONDUCTION- BELL-MEGENDIE LAW
• According to Bell-Megendie law, the impulses are transmitted only in one
direction in synapse, i.e. from presynaptic to postsynaptic neuron.
2. SYNAPTIC DELAY
• It is a short delay that occurs during the transmission of impulses through the
synapse. It is due to the time taken for:
• Release of neurotransmitter
• Passage of neurotransmitter from axon terminal to postsynaptic membrane.
• Action of the neurotransmitter to open the ionic channels in postsynaptic
membrane.
• Normal duration of synaptic dalay is 0.3 to 0.5 millisecond.

3. FATIGUE
• Fatigue at synapse is due to the depletion of neurotransmitter substance,
acetylcholine.
• Depletion of acetylcholine occurs because of two:
1. Soon after the action, acetylcholine is destroyed by acetylcholinesterase.
2. Due to continuous action, new acetylcholine is not synthesized.
4. SUMMATION
• It refers to the mechanism by which EPSP and IPSP are integrated at
postsynaptic neutron level.
• Depending upon the way by which summation occurs, it is classified into 2
types:
1. Spatial summation
2. Temporal summation
1. SPATIAL SUMMATION
• When the action potential is produced by fusion of EPSPs developed from many
presynaptic terminals, it is called spatial summation.
• Summation of these EPSPs allows the potential to reach threshold level for
generation of an action potential in postsynaptic neuron.
• Whereas, summation of IPSPs prevents the generation of action potential in
postsynaptic neuron.
2. TEMPORAL SUMMATION
• When the action potential is produced by fusion of many EPSPs from a signal
presynaptic terminal, it Is called as temporal summation. Here's, EPSPs
develop one after another.
• Thus temporal summation occurs when one presynaptic terminal is stimulates
repeatedly.

• 5. ELECTRICAL PROPERTY
• These are EPSP and IPSP