BRAINCAKENeurotransmitters
Vesicles containing neurotransmitters are found in the swollen end of the presynaptic neurone - the synaptic knob.
Large amounts of mitochondria are needed for the synthesis of neurotransmitters.
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Key terms in this lesson
- neurotransmitter
- A chemical released by a presynaptic neurone that diffuses across a synapse and binds to receptors on the postsynaptic cell, altering its membrane potential.
- action potential
- A rapid, temporary reversal of the electrical charge across an axon membrane (depolarisation followed by repolarisation) that occurs when a stimulus exceeds the threshold value.
- depolarisation
- A change in the potential difference across a membrane that makes the inside less negative (or positive) relative to the outside, caused by an influx of sodium ions.
More in Neuronal Communication
- The Action Potential
- Nerve Impulse
- Saltatory Conduction
- Synapses
- Transmission of Impulse across Synapse
- The Role of Synapses
- Summation
- Structural Organisation of the Nervous System
All 38 lessons in Neuronal Communication · All AQA A-level Biology topics