MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Communication at chemical synapses requires release of neurotransmitters. When the presynaptic membrane is depolarized, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels open and allow Ca2+ to enter the cell. The calcium entry causes synaptic vesicles to fuse with the membrane and release neurotransmitter molecules into the synaptic cleft.

Detailed explanation-2: -Neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles in presynaptic neurons in response to neural activity, diffuse across the synaptic cleft, and bind specific receptors in order to bring about changes in postsynaptic neurons.

Detailed explanation-3: -The released neurotransmitter then diffuses through the synaptic cleft and binds to ligand-gated receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, which then lead to current flow across the postsynaptic membrane.

Detailed explanation-4: -Neurons talk to each other across synapses. When an action potential reaches the presynaptic terminal, it causes neurotransmitter to be released from the neuron into the synaptic cleft, a 20–40nm gap between the presynaptic axon terminal and the postsynaptic dendrite (often a spine).