Synapses
Biology: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 5.2.3
Synapses
Synapses are gaps between neurones, and can be found at each junction of a reflex arc. Nerve impulses need to travel across synapses:
Arrival at the synapse
- The electrical impulse reaches the end of the neurone before the synapse.
- This triggers the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Passing on the impulse
- The neurotransmitters diffuse (move down a concentration gradient) across the synapse.
- The neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the next neurone.
- The presence of the neurotransmitter causes the production of an electrical impulse in the next neurone.
Test yourself on Synapses
What happens immediately after the neurotransmitters are released?
Which of the following are true of synapses?
Synapses
What triggers the release of neurotransmitters at a synapse?
What would happen if neurotransmitters failed to bind to receptors on the next neurone?