CHEMICAL SYNAPSE Meaning and
Definition
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A chemical synapse is a specialized junction or connection between two adjacent neurons or between a neuron and a target cell, where communication occurs by the release and reception of chemical substances called neurotransmitters. It is a fundamental component of the nervous system, allowing the transmission of electrical signals or impulses from one neuron to another across the synaptic cleft.
At a chemical synapse, the presynaptic neuron sends signals to the postsynaptic neuron or target cell through the release of neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers are stored within synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic terminal. When an electrical impulse, known as the action potential, reaches the presynaptic terminal, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
The neurotransmitters then diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, which triggers a series of molecular events. This binding initiates changes in the postsynaptic neuron, leading to either an excitatory or inhibitory response, depending on the specific neurotransmitter and receptor involved. Excitatory neurotransmitters increase the likelihood of the postsynaptic neuron firing an action potential, while inhibitory neurotransmitters decrease that likelihood.
The chemical synapse ensures the transfer and integration of information within the nervous system by modulating the strength and efficacy of synaptic connections. It allows for the amplification or attenuation of the neuronal signals, thus facilitating complex information processing, learning, and memory formation. Defects in chemical synapses are associated with several neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy.
Common Misspellings for CHEMICAL SYNAPSE
- xhemical synapse
- vhemical synapse
- fhemical synapse
- dhemical synapse
- cgemical synapse
- cbemical synapse
- cnemical synapse
- cjemical synapse
- cuemical synapse
- cyemical synapse
- chwmical synapse
- chsmical synapse
- chdmical synapse
- chrmical synapse
- ch4mical synapse
- ch3mical synapse
- chenical synapse
- chekical synapse
- chejical synapse
- chemucal synapse
Etymology of CHEMICAL SYNAPSE
The word "chemical synapse" is derived from the combination of two terms: "chemical" and "synapse".
The term "chemical" stems from the Latin word "chemicus", which was borrowed from the Greek word "khēmikós" meaning "of alchemy" or "pertaining to chemistry". The development of the word in English can be traced back to the 17th century when it began to be used to refer to substances produced in laboratories.
The term "synapse" originates from the Greek word "synapsis", which means "a point of contact" or "connection". It was coined by the English neurophysiologist Charles Scott Sherrington in the late 19th century as he was studying the connections between neurons in the central nervous system. Sherrington used the term to describe the junctions where nerve impulses are transmitted between neurons.
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