Reactome: A Curated Pathway Database

Transmission across Chemical Synapses (R-HSA-112315)

Species Homo sapiens


Chemical synapses are specialized junctions that are used for communication between neurons, neurons and muscle or gland cells. The synapse involves a pre-synaptic neuron and a post-synaptic neuron, muscle cell or glad cell. The pre and the post-synaptic cell are separated by a gap of 20nm called the synaptic cleft. The signals pass in a unidirection from pre-synaptic to post-synaptic. The pre-synaptic neuron communicates via the release of neurotransmitter which bind the receptors on the post-synaptic cell.

Locations in the PathwayBrowser
Additional Information
GO Biological Process synaptic transmission (0007268)
Literature References
pubMedId Title Journal Year
Neuroscience 2nd Edition Sinauer Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 407 23 Plumtree Road, Sunderland, MA 01375 U.S.A. 2001