syn·apse (s n  ps , s-nps)n. The junction across which a nerve impulse passes from an axon terminal to a neuron, muscle cell, or gland cell. intr.v. syn·apsed, syn·aps·ing, syn·aps·es 1. To form a synapse. 2. To undergo synapsis. [Greek sunapsis, point of contact, from sunaptein, to join together : sun-, syn- + haptein, to fasten.] |
synapse [ˈsaɪnæps]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) the point at which a nerve impulse is relayed from the terminal portion of an axon to the dendrites of an adjacent neuron
| synapse (snps) The small junction across which a nerve impulse passes from one nerve cell to another nerve cell, a muscle cell, or a gland cell. The synapse consists of the synaptic terminal, or presynaptic ending, of a sending neuron, a postsynaptic ending of the receiving cell that contains receptor sites, and the space between them (the synaptic cleft). The synaptic terminal contains neurotransmitters and cell organelles including mitochondria. An electrical impulse in the sending neuron triggers the migration of vesicles containing neurotransmitters toward the membrane of the synaptic terminal. The vesicle membrane fuses with the presynaptic membrane, and the neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors of the connecting cell where they excite or inhibit electrical impulses. See also neurotransmitter. |   |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | synapse - the junction between two neurons (axon-to-dendrite) or between a neuron and a muscle; "nerve impulses cross a synapse through the action of neurotransmitters" myoneural junction, neuromuscular junction - the junction between a nerve fiber and the muscle it supplies |
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