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Nervous System > Synapses
... > Cells > Cellular Structures > Cell Membrane > Cell Membrane Structures > Intercellular Junctions > Synapses

Preferred term

Synapses  

Type

  • Topical Descriptor

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Entry terms

  • Synapse

Note

  • note specifics; IMMUNOLOGICAL SYNAPSES is also available; / physiol: consider also SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION; do not confuse with SYNAPSIS see CHROMOSOME PAIRING

Scope note

  • Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions.

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URI

http://www.yso.fi/onto/mesh/D013569

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