Chemical Synapses

• Chemical Synapses

  most common type of synapse

  specialised to allow the release + reception of chem messengers = neurotransitters

  made up of 2 parts:

  knob-like axon terminal of presynaptic neuron, containing synaptic vesicles

  neurotransmitter receptor region on the post synaptic neuron
• Synaptic Cleft


  altho close to each other, presynaptic + postsynaptic membranes r separated by the synaptic cleft

  = a fluid-filled space (20 nm) that's important for the controld of the conc of neurotransmitter that communicate the signal to the effector cells