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presynaptic

American  
[pree-si-nap-tik] / ˌpri sɪˈnæp tɪk /

adjective

Physiology.
  1. being or occurring on the transmitting end of a discharge across a synapse.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of presynaptic

1905–10; pre- + synaptic ( def. )


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

To examine how these networks function, he used the patch-clamp technique, which measures tiny electrical signals within specific parts of neurons, including presynaptic terminals and dendrites.

From Science Daily ● May 3, 2026

Synaptic versicles -- sphere-like structures that store and release neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, are found in the presynaptic terminals of neurons.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 3, 2024

Additionally, one neuron often has inputs from many presynaptic neurons—some excitatory and some inhibitory—so IPSPs can cancel out EPSPs and vice versa.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

In an electrical synapse, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Figure 9.3 The distance between the presynaptic cell and the postsynaptic cell—called the synaptic gap—is very small and allows for rapid diffusion of the neurotransmitter.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

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