Chapter 5: Synaptic Transmission Questions Answer Key University of Cincinnati, Main Campus NS 2001

Test Bank
to accompany
Neuroscience, Sixth Edition
Purves • Augustine • Fitzpatrick • Hall • LaMantia • Mooney • Platt • White

Chapter 5: Synaptic Transmission
-reversal potentials
-ligand gated
-synaptic summation
-inhibitory vs. excitatory neurons
tetrotatoxin
-antagonists



Multiple Choice

1. Which structure can be found exclusively at an electrical synapse?
a. Synaptic cleft
b. Synaptic vesicle
c. Connexon
d. Neurotransmitter receptor
e. Presynaptic membrane
Answer: c
Textbook Reference: Two Classes of Synapses
Bloom’s Level: 1. Remembering

2. Presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons that form _______ synapses are connected via
_______.
a. chemical; connexons
b. chemical; neurotransmitter release
c. electrical; gap junctions
d. electrical; the synaptic cleft
e. electrical; synaptic vesicles
Answer: c
Textbook Reference: Two Classes of Synapses
Bloom’s Level: 1. Remembering

3. How many connexin subunits form one complete synaptic channel?
a. 4
b. 6
c. 10
d. 12
e. 16
Answer: d

, Textbook Reference: Signaling Transmission at Electrical Synapses
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding

4. Which substances diffuse through connexon channels between pre- and postsynaptic
neurons?
a. Ions
b. Second messengers
c. Small proteins
d. ATP
e. All of the above
Answer: e
Textbook Reference: Signaling Transmission at Electrical Synapses
Bloom’s Level: 1. Remembering

5. Which feature of an electrical synapse allows synchronizing the electrical activity of
multiple neurons?
a. Fast speed of transmission
b. Ability of neurons to form gap junctions with glial cells
c. Bidirectional transmission of electrical signals
d. Slow transmission of signals
e. Bidirectional transmission of chemical signals
Answer: c
Textbook Reference: Signaling Transmission at Electrical Synapses
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding

6. What is the action of the neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse?
a. It acts on receptors in the postsynaptic membrane.
b. It electrically activates the presynaptic neuron.
c. It crosses the postsynaptic membrane and then activates ion channels in the
postsynaptic neuron.
d. It depolarizes the postsynaptic membrane by delivering an electrical charge.
e. It transfers an action potential from the presynaptic neuron to the postsynaptic neuron.
Answer: a
Textbook Reference: Signaling Transmission at Chemical Synapses
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding

7. Which event is the first in the series of events that take place during chemical synaptic
transmission?
a. Neurotransmitter binds to its receptors.
b. Influx of Ca2+ in the presynaptic terminal.
c. Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels open.
d. Neurotransmitter is released into the synaptic cleft.
e. Synaptic vesicles fuse with the presynaptic membrane.
Answer: c
Textbook Reference: Signaling Transmission at Chemical Synapses
Bloom’s Level: 3. Applying