chemical synapse

Introduction

Characteristics of chemical synapse:

• 30-50 nm separating pre-synaptic membrane & post-synaptic membranes
• no cytoplasmic continuity between communicating cells
• release of neurotransmitter(s) from presynaptic vesicles into synaptic cleft with binding to post-synaptic receptor(s) serves as communicating channel between cells
• chemical neurotransmitter(s) transmits information
• 0.3-5 msec synaptic delay
• communication is unidirectional

More general terms

• synapse

More specific terms

• excitatory synapse
• neuromuscular junction

Additional terms

• synaptic cleft
• synaptic membrane
• synaptic plasticity; neuronal plasticity
• synaptic receptor
• synaptic reuptake
• synaptic vesicle
• synaptogenesis
• synaptosome

Components

• synaptic vesicle