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  2. Synapse - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapse

    Synapse. Diagram of a chemical synaptic connection. In the nervous system, a synapse[1] is a structure that permits a neuron (or nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron or to the target effector cell. Synapses are essential to the transmission of nervous impulses from one neuron to another, [2] playing a key role ...

  3. Chemical synapse - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_synapse

    An electrical synapse is an electrically conductive link between two abutting neurons that is formed at a narrow gap between the pre- and postsynaptic cells, known as a gap junction. At gap junctions, cells approach within about 3.5 nm of each other, rather than the 20 to 40 nm distance that separates cells at chemical synapses.

  4. Electrical synapse - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_synapse

    An electrical synapse is a mechanical and electrically conductive synapse, a functional junction between two neighboring neurons. The synapse is formed at a narrow gap between the pre- and postsynaptic neurons known as a gap junction. At gap junctions, such cells approach within about 3.8 nm of each other, [1] a much shorter distance than the ...

  5. Excitatory synapse - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excitatory_synapse

    Excitatory synapse. A diagram of a typical central nervous system synapse. The spheres located in the upper neuron contain neurotransmitters that fuse with the presynaptic membrane and release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These neurotransmitters bind to receptors located on the postsynaptic membrane of the lower neuron, and, in ...

  6. Neuromuscular junction - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromuscular_junction

    A neuromuscular junction (or myoneural junction) is a chemical synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber. [1] It allows the motor neuron to transmit a signal to the muscle fiber, causing muscle contraction. [2] Muscles require innervation to function—and even just to maintain muscle tone, avoiding atrophy.

  7. Neurotransmission - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotransmission

    Neurotransmission (Latin: transmissio "passage, crossing" from transmittere "send, let through") is the process by which signaling molecules called neurotransmitters are released by the axon terminal of a neuron (the presynaptic neuron), and bind to and react with the receptors on the dendrites of another neuron (the postsynaptic neuron) a ...

  8. Synaptogenesis - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaptogenesis

    Synaptogenesis is the formation of synapses between neurons in the nervous system. Although it occurs throughout a healthy person's lifespan, an explosion of synapse formation occurs during early brain development, known as exuberant synaptogenesis. [ 1 ] Synaptogenesis is particularly important during an individual's critical period, during ...

  9. Synaptic vesicle - Wikipedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synaptic_vesicle

    In a neuron, synaptic vesicles (or neurotransmitter vesicles) store various neurotransmitters that are released at the synapse. The release is regulated by a voltage-dependent calcium channel. Vesicles are essential for propagating nerve impulses between neurons and are constantly recreated by the cell.