A biological synapse involving neurons can be:(1) Chemical synapse: the junction between neurons such that the nerve impulse is transmitted from a neuron to another neuron or to a muscle cell or gland cell. (2) Electrical synapse: the gap junction between two apposed neurons that allows faster nerve transmission.
Synapse. Definition. noun, plural: synapses. A specialized structure or junction that allows cell to cell communication. verb. (1) To form a synapse. (2) To undergo synapsis. Supplement. A biological synapse involving neurons can be: (1) Chemical synapse: the junction between neurons such that the nerve impulse is transmitted from a neuron to another neuron or to a muscle cell or gland cell. (2) Electrical synapse: the gap junction between two apposed neurons that allows faster nerve transmission. Recently, a biological synapse not involving a neuron is found to exist. The junction between a lymphocyte and an antigen-presenting cell is referred to as immunological synapse.  Specialized region between an axon terminus of a neuron and an adjacent neuron or other excitable cell (e.g., muscle cell) across which impulses are trans mitted. synapse. space between axon brush of one nerve cell and the dendrite of the next nerve cell. Source: Noland, George B. 1983. General Biology, 11th Edition. St. Louis, MO. C. V. Mosby ... Synapse s. The coordination of cellular activities in animals is usually considered to involve ...  © Kenneth Lu (ToastyKen) CC-BY-2.0. The SYNAPSE biology forum seems to be really working well, judging by the level of dialogue taking place over there. You might not be surprised that a lot of the discussion is around assessment. There has been a lot of resources sharing, too, which is brilliant.  The synapse is a small gap separating neurons. The synapse consists of: a presynaptic ending that contains neurotransmitters, mitochondria and other cell organelles, a postsynaptic ending that contains receptor sites for neurotransmitters and, a synaptic cleft or space between the presynaptic and postsynaptic endings. The neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft. 4. The neurotransmitter binds to the neuroreceptors in the post-synaptic membrane, causing the channels to open. In the example shown these are sodium channels, so sodium ions flow in. 1 An electrical impulse travels along an axon. 2  This triggers the nerve-ending of a neuron to release chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. 3  These chemicals diffuse across the synapse (the gap) and bind with receptor molecules on the membrane of the next neuron. 1 These chemicals diffuse across the synapse (the gap) and bind with receptor molecules on the membrane of the next neuron. 2  The receptor molecules on the second neuron bind only to the specific chemicals released from the first neuron. An action potential cannot cross the synaptic cleft between neurones. Instead the nerve impulse is carried by chemicals called neurotransmitters. These chemicals are made by the cell that is sending the impulse (the pre-synaptic neurone) and stored in synaptic vesicles at the end of the axon. The neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft. 4. The neurotransmitter binds to the neuroreceptors in the post-synaptic membrane, causing the channels to open. In the example shown these are sodium channels, so sodium ions flow in. The junction between the axon terminals of a neuron and the receiving cell is called a synapse. (Synapses at muscle fibers are also called neuromuscular junctions or myoneural junctions 1  .). Action potentials travel down the axon of the neuron to its end(s), the axon terminal(s). The neurotransmitter at excitatory synapses depolarizes the postsynaptic membrane (of a neuron in this diagram). 1  Binding of acetylcholine to its receptors on the postsynaptic cell opens up ligand-gated sodium channels. 2  These allow an influx of Na + ions, reducing the membrane potential.
http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Synapse http://en.mimi.hu/biology/synapse.html http://sptr.net/blog/synapse-biology-resources/ http://biologymad.com/NervousSystem/synapses.htm http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_ocr_pre_2011/brain_mind/informationrev2.shtml http://biologymad.com/NervousSystem/synapses.htm http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/S/Synapses.html
what is a synapse in biology