Preferred Term:
synapse
Definition:
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.
Concept Schemes:
NALT Full
Broader Concept:
Narrower Concepts:
Entry Terms:
- synapses (nervous system)
URI:
https://lod.nal.usda.gov/nalt/54683
Download this Concept:
RDF/XMLCreated 2006-01-19, last modified 2017-05-31