SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION

Question 1

step 1

Answer 1

When an electrical impulse arrives at the end of the axon on the presynaptic neurone (also called the synaptic knob), chemical messengers called neurotransmitters are released from vesicles at the presynaptic membrane

Question 2

step 2

Answer 2

The neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft and temporarily bind with receptor molecules on the postsynaptic membrane

Question 3

step 3

Answer 3

This stimulates the postsynaptic neurone to generate an electrical impulse that then travels down the axon of the postsynaptic neurone

Question 4

final step

Answer 4

The neurotransmitters are then destroyed or recycled to prevent continued stimulation of the second neurone, which could cause repeated impulses to be sent