Process of Synaptic Transmission

What’s a synapse?

The gap between neurons through which the electrical impulse from the neuron is transmitted

What are neurotransmitters?

They are chemicals that diffuse across the synapse to the next neuron in the chain

What is the process of synaptic transmission?

• An electrical impulse travels along the axon of the transmitting neuron

• This triggers the nerve-ending of the pre-synaptic neuron to release chemical messengers called neurotransmitters

• These chemicals diffuse across the synapse and bind with receptor molecules on the membrane of the next neuron

• The receptor molecules on the second neuron bind only to the specific chemicals released from the first neuron. This stimulates the second neuron to transmit the electrical impulse.

• Reuptake is when the neurotransmitter is reabsorbed in the vesicles of the pre-synaptic neuron after it has performed its function of transmitting a neural impulse.

How are signals within neurons transmitted?

Electrically

How are signals between neurons transmitted?

Chemically

What happens first in the process of synaptic transmission?

When the electrical impulse reaches the end of the neuron which is the pre-synaptic terminal, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters from the synaptic vesicle.

What happens after neurotransmitters are released from the synaptic vesicle?

Neurotransmitters diffuse across the synapse to the next neuron in the chain

What happens after neurotransmitters are diffused across the synapse?

They are taken in by the post synaptic receptor site which are the dendrites of the next neuron. It then gets converted back into an electrical impulse to go on.