Module 1 The Nervous System

Lesson 1.1.8

Lesson 8—Synaptic and Neuromuscular Transmission—Crossing the Divide

 

Get Focused

 

You hear the most wonderful laughter from across the room. You turn to meet eyes with the most attractive person you have ever seen. All of a sudden, they ask you a question – “do you know the time?” What will you say? You are so nervous! Will a response even come out of your mouth? Thank goodness your nervous system is working and you stutter out the time.

 

Your Nervous System is responsible for the communication between this person and yourself. Up to this point, you have learned about neurons, and are aware of the tiny gaps between them. Communication usually requires some sort of connection. Think of what happens when the land phone lines are down, or your internet connection goes out. You know what it’s like when there are gaps in your own communication path between the phone and the Iinternet.

 

So how did the sights and sounds from this attractive person get communicated from neuron to neuron, across the gaps between them? What happens when these “lines go down”?

 

This lesson is all about the events that occur in the synaptic gap. You will examine how neurons communicate with each other and with muscles. These events can be affected by many substances, such as coffee, energy drinks, alcohol, anesthetics. They can also be affected by disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease.

 

In this lesson, you will investigate the following focusing questions:

• How does the anatomy and function of the synaptic gap and neuromuscular junction facilitate the transmission of nerve impulses between neurons, and between neurons and effectors?
• How do chemicals that we take into our body and disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease compromise synaptic transmission?

Module 1: Lesson 8 Assignment

 

Remember that further practice and application can be completed by doing the many questions in the textbook. You can access the answers to these questions from your instructor. The Key will provide you with many Diploma exam style multiple choice, numerical response, and written response questions that will provide excellent review of the module and prove to be good preparation for the Diploma exam.

 

Once you have completed all of the learning activities for this lesson, you can complete the online assignment.

Bio30 1.1.8 online assignment

Here is a tutorial video for this lesson that you can watch if it suits your learning style.  Bio30 tut#1.1.8

 ** The Self-Check and Try This questions throughout this lesson are not marked by the teacher; however these questions provide you with the practice and feedback that you need to successfully complete this course. **