Presynaptic
Presynaptic
Presynaptic (pronunciation: pre-syn-apt-ic) is a term used in Neuroscience to describe the neuron or nerve cell that releases neurotransmitters into the Synapse. The term is derived from the Greek words "pre" meaning before, and "synapsis" meaning conjunction.
Etymology
The term "Presynaptic" is derived from the Greek words "pre" (προ), meaning "before", and "synapsis" (σύναψις), meaning "conjunction". It was first used in the context of Neurobiology to describe the neuron that releases neurotransmitters into the synapse, the junction between two nerve cells.
Function
In a typical neuron, the presynaptic area is located at the end of the axon, the long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted. When an electrical impulse, or Action potential, reaches the presynaptic area, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters then cross the synapse and bind to receptors on the Postsynaptic neuron, thereby transmitting the signal.
Related Terms
- Neuron: A nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system.
- Neurotransmitter: A chemical substance that is released at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse.
- Synapse: The junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter.
- Action potential: A short-lasting event in which the electrical membrane potential of a cell rapidly rises and falls.
- Postsynaptic: Referring to or denoting a nerve cell that receives a nerve impulse after a synapse.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Presynaptic
- Wikipedia's article - Presynaptic
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