Question

What is synapse? Ina neuron cell how is an electrical impulse created and what is the role of synapse in this context?

Answer 1

Synapse is the joining point between the axon of one neuron and dendrite of the second neuron. It is also found as a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap.

When an impulse gets to the end of one neuron and has to be sent down to the next neuron, the synapse acts as a bridge. The signal arrives at the end of one neuron (close to the synapse) as an electrical signal.

The electrical impulses are carried out by dendrite of one nerve cell, then it is passed to the cyton of the same nerve cell. Then the cyton passes that electrical impulses to the axon. Then the cyton pass impulses to another nerve cells through the synapse, this process continues from one neuron to other. Finally, it is received by the brain through the neuron.

So when a nerve impulse reaches the knob like nerve ending of an axon, a tiny amount of a chemical substance is released in the synapse. This chemical substance is called the neurotransmitter. At synapse the electrical signals converted into chemicals, that can easily cross over the gap and pass on to the next neurons where it again converted into electrical signals.