Question

Briefly explain the term synapse.

Answer 1

Synapse:

1. Synapse refers to the point of contact, with a small gap, between the nerve endings of one axon of a nerve cell and the dendrites of another nerve cell.
2. The small gap which separates two nerve cells is known as the synaptic cleft.
3. When the terminal end of an axon receives an impulse, the neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft.
4. The neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine drive a nerve stimulus in the dendrites and cross membrane receptors to the next nerve ending.