synapse

[sin-aps, si-naps]

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.

verb (used without object)

synapsed, synapsing 

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

synapse

/ 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

synapse

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

synapse

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

Other Word Forms

• synaptic adjective
• synaptical adjective
• synaptically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of synapse¹

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

Example Sentences

After a tour of her laboratory and MRI scanner, dialogue about the frontal cortex and the mysteries of synapses, she offered a simple declarative sentence: “We are our brains.”

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The brain builds new synapses more slowly, so finds it harder to adjust.

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Hebbian-style synaptic plasticity allows for creation of memories and learning from experience within a network of neurons and synapses.

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You probably have a general understanding of the human brain: a network of nerve cells connected by synapses.

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Results of plasticity simulations were compared to electron microscopy data and a predicted motif effect on synapse strength was confirmed.

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