The synaptic cleft represents the gap between two nerve cells within a chemical synapse. The electrical nerve signal from the first cell transforms into a biochemical signal at the terminal node and transforms back into an electrical action potential in the second nerve cell. Agents such as drugs, medications, and toxins can interfere with the … Synaptic Cleft: Structure, Function & Diseases
Definition – What is a neurotransmitter? The human brain consists of an almost unimaginable number of cells. An estimated 100 billion neurons, which carry out the actual thinking work, and once again the same number of so-called glial cells, which support the neurons in their work, form the organ that makes us humans something special … Neurotransmitter
GABA The amino acid glutamate is known to most people as a food additive and flavor enhancer in a variety of ready meals. However, glutamate is much more important for us as the most important excitatory neurotransmitter in our nervous system. In a way, glutamate is therefore the antagonist of GABA. However, the two messenger … GABA | Neurotransmitter
Serotonin Serotonin, also called enteramine, is a so-called biogenic amine, which is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter. As such, it plays an important role in the central nervous system as well as in the nervous system of the intestine and in its function as a hormone in the cardiovascular system. Its name is derived … Serotonin | Neurotransmitter
Functionality of chemical synapses Whenever a nerve cell sends a signal to a muscle, gland or other nerve cell, the transmission takes place via the synaptic gap, which is only about 20-30 nanometers wide. The long extensions of the nerve cells (also called “axons”) conduct the nerve impulse (i.e. the “action potential“) from the center … Functionality of chemical synapses | Synaptic cleft
Simplified pictorial representation For better understanding the following illustration: A group of hikers (=action potentials) wants to cross a river (=synaptic cleft) with boats (=synaptic vesicles), but there is only one docking and undocking point per side (=pre- & postsynaptic membrane). If they have successfully crossed the flow, they can continue their migration on the … Simplified pictorial representation | Synaptic cleft
Definition The synaptic gap is a space between two communicating nerve cells that plays an important role in the transmission of action potentials (nerve impulses). In it a modulation of signal transmission takes place, which has a great pharmacological importance. Construction of a synaptic cleft A synapse is the transition between two nerve cells or … Synaptic cleft
