electrical synapse

Introduction

Characteristics of electrical synapse

• 3.5 nm separating pre-synaptic membranes & post-synaptic membranes
• cytoplasmic continuity exists between communicating cells
• gap junctions serve as communicating channels between cells
• ionic current transmits information
• virtually no synaptic delay
• communication is usually bidirectional

Chemical synapse:

• 30-50 nm separating pre-synaptic membranes & 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

Additional terms

• gap junction (connexon)