synapse

American  

[sin-aps, si-naps] / ˈsɪn æps, sɪˈnæps /

noun

1. a region where nerve impulses are transmitted and received, encompassing the axon terminal of a neuron that releases neurotransmitters in response to an impulse, an extremely small gap across which the neurotransmitters travel, and the adjacent membrane of an axon, dendrite, or muscle or gland cell with the appropriate receptor molecules for picking up the neurotransmitters.

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verb (used without object)

synapsed, synapsing

1. Cell Biology, Physiology. to form a synapse or a synapsis.

synapse British  

/ ˈsaɪnæps /

noun

1. the point at which a nerve impulse is relayed from the terminal portion of an axon to the dendrites of an adjacent neuron

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synapse Scientific  

/ sĭn′ăps′ /

1. The small junction across which a nerve impulse passes from one nerve cell to another nerve cell, a muscle cell, or a gland cell. The synapse consists of the synaptic terminal, or presynaptic ending, of a sending neuron, a postsynaptic ending of the receiving cell that contains receptor sites, and the space between them (the synaptic cleft). The synaptic terminal contains neurotransmitters and cell organelles including mitochondria. An electrical impulse in the sending neuron triggers the migration of vesicles containing neurotransmitters toward the membrane of the synaptic terminal. The vesicle membrane fuses with the presynaptic membrane, and the neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors of the connecting cell where they excite or inhibit electrical impulses.

2. See also neurotransmitter

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synapse Cultural  

1. A gap between two nerve cells. Nerve signals are sent across the gap by neurotransmitters.

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Other Word Forms

• synaptic adjective
• synaptical adjective
• synaptically adverb

Etymology

Origin of synapse

1895–1900; back formation from synapses, plural of synapsis

Example Sentences

These fibers formed synapses with one another, closely resembling the connections seen in the human brain.

From Science Daily

Depending on how they are stimulated, the same device can act as a memory element, a logic gate, a selector, an analog processor, or an electronic synapse.

From Science Daily

When an electrical signal reaches the end of an axon, it cannot cross the small gap to the next neuron, which is known as a synapse.

From Science Daily

There are still crucial unknowns - there isn't a definitive explanation of why the connections between neurons, called synapses, are lost in Alzheimer's.

From BBC

Neurons fire spikes, synapses release neurotransmitters, and networks shift through event-like states.

From Science Daily