1. Distinguish between an electrical and chemical synapse by a) Comparing the pr
ID: 281500 • Letter: 1
Question
1. Distinguish between an electrical and chemical synapse by a) Comparing the presence or absence of any relevant microscopic (cell-level) structures associated with the interaction between the two neurons involved in each synapse (name what you would see between two neurons for each type of synapse) b) Comparing the timing of a signal sent from one neuron to the next (is there a delay?) c) Which synapse is more common in the nervous system: electrical or chemical? d) Why is the synapse that you named in part c the most common?Explanation / Answer
a ) Conduction of impulse in a chemical synapse is through specilaized chemical mediators called as Neurotransmitters whereas in an electrical synapse impulse is transmitted through gap junctions which are actually low resistance bridge. In a chemical synapse the space between pre and post-synaptic membrane is called as the Synaptic cleft.
b ) The time of conduction is more in a chemical synapse than an electrical synapse as there is a delay in chemical synapse.
c ) Chemical synapse is more common than electrical synapse.
d ) Chemical synapses are more common because they are not only present between two neurones but also between a neuron and a muscle or a gland.
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