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The Synapse

The Synapse

Neurons communicate with one another by passing on their electrical signals to other neurons. A synapse is the location where two neurons meet to exchange signals. At the synapse, the neuron that sends the signal is called the presynaptic cell, while the neuron that receives the message is called the postsynaptic cell. Note that most neurons can be both presynaptic and postsynaptic, as they both transmit and receive information.

Electrical Synapses

Electrical Synapses

Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...

Chemical Synapses

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

Chemical Synapses

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

Overview of Synapses

Overview of Synapses

A synapse is a specialized structure where two neurons connect, allowing them to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. It is the point of communication between neurons. The term "synapse" is derived from the Greek word "synapsis," which means "conjunction." The entire process of neural communication revolves around the synapse. When activated, a neuron releases chemicals known as neurotransmitters into the synapse. These neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to...

Structures of Solids

Structures of Solids

Solids in which the atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite repeating pattern are known as crystalline solids. Metals and ionic compounds typically form ordered, crystalline solids. A crystalline solid has a precise melting temperature because each atom or molecule of the same type is held in place with the same forces or energy. Amorphous solids or non-crystalline solids (or, sometimes, glasses) which lack an ordered internal structure and are randomly arranged. Substances that...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Published on: April 21, 2022

Invaginating Structures in Mammalian Synapses.

Ronald S Petralia¹, Ya-Xian Wang¹, Mark P Mattson²

¹Advanced Imaging Core, NIDCD/NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States.

Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience

|April 21, 2018

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Chemical synapses feature three categories of invaginating structures, crucial for modulating neuronal signaling. These structures, found in various nervous system locations, play specialized roles in cell communication.

Keywords:

CA3 cannabinoid ephaptic horizontal cell indented neuromuscular retina spinule

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Immunolabeling and Counting Ribbon Synapses in Young Adult and Aged Gerbil Cochleae

Published on: April 21, 2022

Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number

Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number

Published on: November 16, 2010

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse

Imaging the Human Immunological Synapse

Published on: December 26, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology
Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

Invaginating structures are present in mammalian nervous system chemical synapses, including presynaptic terminals, postsynaptic spines/dendrites, and glial processes.
These structures are categorized based on their directionality and presence of synaptic active zones.

Purpose of the Study:

To classify and describe the different types of invaginating structures found at chemical synapses.
To highlight the potential roles of these structures in modulating neuronal signaling.

Main Methods:

Classification of invaginating structures based on morphological and functional characteristics.
Review of existing literature and examples from various neuronal systems.

Main Results:

Category 1: Slender protrusions without active zones (e.g., spinules, inhibitory terminal protrusions).
Category 2: Postsynaptic spines invaginating into presynaptic terminals (e.g., hippocampal mossy terminal synapses).
Category 3: Presynaptic terminals invaginating into postsynaptic structures (e.g., neuromuscular junction, retinal synapses).
Horizontal cells in the retina exhibit characteristics of both Category 2 and 3.

Conclusions:

Invaginating structures represent a diverse morphological and functional class of synaptic components.
These structures are likely integral to the specialized modulation of neuronal signaling across different brain regions and systems.