Nervous System –Synapse
• @Ayurveda Academy
• Prof.Dr.R.R.Deshpande
• (M.D in Ayurvdic Medicine & M.D. in Ayurvedic
Physiology)
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• [email protected]
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Nervous System
• Syllabus –BPTH
• Sr No 2 –b
• Synapse –
• 1) Structure
• 2) Properties
• 3) Transmission
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Synapse –Definition
•Synapse is the junction between
two neurons
•It is not an anatomical
continuation
•But, it is only a Physiological
continuity between two nerve
cells
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Synapse – Classification
•1) Anatomical classification
•2) Functional classification.
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Synapse –
Anatomical Classification
• Usually synapse is formed by axon of one neuron
ending on the cell body, dendrite or axon of the next
neuron.
• Depending upon ending of axon, synapse is classified
into three types:
• 1) Axoaxonic synapse = Axon of one neuron
terminates on axon of another neuron
• 2) Axodendritic synapse = Axon of one neuron
terminates on Dendrite of another neuron
• 3) Axosomatic synapse = in which axon of one neuron
ends on soma or cell body of another neuron
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Synapse –
Anatomical Classification
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Synapse –
Functional Classification
• Functional classification of synapse is on the
basis of mode of impulse transmission.
• According to this, synapse is classified into
two categories:---
• 1) Electrical synapse
• 2)Chemical synapse.
• However, generally the word synapse refers
to a chemical synapse.
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Electrical synapse
• Electrical synapse is the synapse in which the
physiological continuity between the presynaptic
and the post synaptic neurons is provided by gap
junction between the two neurons (Fig. 140.2).
• There is direct exchange of ions between the two
neurons through the gap junction.
• Because of this reason, the action potential
reaching the terminal portion of presynaptic
neuron directly enters the postsynaptic neuron.
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Electrical synapse
• Important feature of electrical synapse is that the
synaptic delay is very less because of the direct
flow of current
• Moreover, the impulse is transmitted in either
direction through the electrical synapse
• 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
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Synapse –
Functional Classification
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Chemical synapse
• Chemical synapse is the junction between a
nerve fiber and a muscle fiber or between
two nerve fibers, through which the signals
are transmitted by the release of chemical
transmitter.
• In the chemical synapse, there is no
continuity between the two neurons
because of the presence of a space called
synaptic cleft between the two neurons
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Chemical synapse
• Action potential reaching the
presynaptic terminal causes release of
neurotransmitter substance from the
vesicles of this terminal.
• Neurotransmitter reaches the
postsynaptic neuron through synaptic
cleft
• Causes the production of potential
change.
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Chemical synapse –
Functional Anatomy
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Chemical synapse –
Functional Anatomy
• Neuron from which the axon arises is called
the presynaptic neuron and the neuron on
which the axon ends is called postsynaptic
neuron.
• Axon of the presynaptic neuron divides into
many small branches before forming the
synapse.
• These branches are known as presynaptic
axon terminals.
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Chemical synapse –
Functional Anatomy
• Types of Axon Terminals
• 1) Terminal knobs = Some of the terminals are
enlarged slightly like knobs called terminal knobs.
Terminal knobs are concerned with excitatory
function of the synapse
• 2) Terminal coils or free endings =
• Other terminals are wavy or coiled with free ending
with out the knob.
• These terminals are concerned with inhibitory
function.
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Structures of Axon Terminals and
Presynaptic Membrane
• Presynaptic Axon terminal has a definite intact
membrane known as presynaptic membrane.
• Axon terminal has two important structures:
• 1) Mitochondria = help in the synthesis of
• neurotransmitter substance
• 2) Synaptic vesicles = which store
neurotransmitter substance.
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Synaptic Cleft and
Postsynaptic Membrane
• Membrane of the postsynaptic neuron is
called Postsynaptic membrane.
• It contains some Receptor proteins.
• Small space in between the presynaptic
membrane and the postsynaptic membrane
is called Synaptic cleft.
• The Basal lamina of this cleft contains
Cholinesterase, which destroys
Acetylcholine.
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Synapse –Functions
• Main function of the synapse is to Transmit the
impulses, i.e. action potential from one neuron to
another.
• However, some of the synapses inhibit these impulses.
• So the impulses are not transmitted to the
postsynaptic neuron.
• On the basis of functions, synapses are divided into two
types:
• 1) Excitatory synapses = Transmit the impulses
(excitatory function)
• 2) Inhibitory synapses = Inhibit the transmission of
impulses (inhibitory function).
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