A synapse is the junction or gap between two neurons or between a neuron and another cell (like a muscle or gland cell) 🧠🔗.
- Structure: It consists of three main parts: the presynaptic neuron (sending cell), the synaptic cleft (gap), and the postsynaptic neuron (receiving cell).
- Function: Synapses allow the transmission of signals from one neuron to another through the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters 🧪.
- Process:
- An electrical impulse (action potential) reaches the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron 📡.
- Neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft 💧.
- These neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, converting the signal back into an electrical impulse 📶.
Synapses are essential for communication within the nervous system, enabling everything from muscle movements 💪 to complex thought processes 💭
