Neurotransmission
This worksheet is to help you understand how information is transmitted from one neuron to the next
neuron in the nervous system.
The process of neuron-to-neuron communication involves several steps, each of which is covered in a
separate section below: (1) neurotransmitter release at synapses, (2) post-synaptic potentials (PSPs), (3)
passive spread of PSPs, (4) summation of PSPs at the axon hillock, and (5) action potentials along the
axon.
Before running through the process in detail, it may be helpful to review or learn the building blocks
listed below, all of which come into play during the process.
(A) Neuron anatomy
I
Draw a \"generic\" neuron and label the following parts of a \"generic\" neuron: Nucleus, Myalin
Dendrites, Soma (cell body), Nodes of Ranvier, Axon, Axon Hillock, Axon Terminal (buttons).
Structure of a Typical Neuron