BRAINCAKESummation
Each action potential triggers the release of the same amount of neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. Only if the amount of neurotransmitter is sufficient will an action potential be triggered in the post-synaptic neurone.
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Key terms in this lesson
- Neurone
- A specialised nerve cell adapted to transmit electrical impulses (nerve impulses) around the body.
- Action potential
- The temporary reversal of the electrical charge across an axon membrane, from about -70mV to +40mV, that occurs when a neurone is stimulated above threshold.
- Neurotransmitter
- A chemical released from the presynaptic membrane at a synapse that diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, triggering a response.
More in Neuronal Communication
- Synapses
- Neurotransmitters
- Transmission of Impulse across Synapse
- The Role of Synapses
- Structural Organisation of the Nervous System
- Functional Organisation of the Nervous System
- The Autonomic Nervous System
- Comparison of Neurones
All 38 lessons in Neuronal Communication · All OCR A-level Biology topics