Synaptic transmission

• Synaptic transmission involves several stages: an electrical signal reaches the end of the presynaptic neuron and it arrives at the terminal button to be passed onto the postsynaptic neuron.
• The electrical signal causes the vesicles to release the neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.
• The neurotransmitter crosses the synapse and makes its way to the postsynaptic neuron.
• The neurotransmitter can only enter the postsynaptic neuron if it fits into the receptor site on the postsynaptic neuron.
• The neurotransmitter enters the receptors and causes an electrical massage down the post synaptic neuron.
• Neurotransmitters that are left behind in the synapse may be broken down or reabsorbed by the reuptake channel.
• Synaptic transmission - The process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the synaptic gap that separates them
• Summation - A process which decides whether a postsynaptic neuron will fire (pass on the message) . This happens by weighing up the amount of inhibitory neurons compared to excitatory neurons .