transmission across synapse

• step 1?

  Nerve impulses reaches axon terminal, activating voltage gated Ca ion channels
• step 2?

  Voltage gated Ca channels opens and Calcium enters axon terminals
• step 3?

  Calcium entry causes neurotransmitter-containing synaptic vesicles to release their contents by exocytosis
• step 4?

  Neurotransmitter diffuses across synaptic cleft and binds to receptor of post synaptic membrane
• step 5?

  stimulates ligand-gated protein channels to open, allowing influx of Na and initiates action potential in post synaptic neuron
• What is action potential?

  High speed signals that pass along axons of nerve cells
• What is synapse?

  very small gap, connection, between adjacent neurons
• Neurotransmitters?

  Molecules that carries a nerve impulse across synapse

  Chemical secreted into the gap between neurons at a synapse
• What is a synaptic bulb?

  Structure at end of axon that has vesicles with chemicals