synapsis

[si-nap-sis]

noun

plural

synapses 

1. Also called syndesis. Cell Biology.,  the pairing of homologous chromosomes, one from each parent, during early meiosis.

2. Physiology.,  synapse.

synapsis

/ sɪˈnæpsɪs /

noun

1. cytology the association in pairs of homologous chromosomes at the start of meiosis

2. another word for synapse

Other Word Forms

• synaptic adjective
• synaptical adjective
• synaptically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of synapsis¹

1645–55; < New Latin < Greek sýnapsis “junction,” equivalent to synap- (stem of synáptein “to make contact,” equivalent to syn- syn- + (h)áptein “to touch”) + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of synapsis¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek sunapsis junction, from sunaptein to join together, from _syn- + haptein to connect

Example Sentences

In addition to learning more about the strength of the connections between neurons, or synapses, they also broke down the cellular mechanisms behind how synapses perform these basic functions.

From Salon

“Even if you could download the information that a brain holds, the trillions of synaptic connections unique to each brain ... Those synapses are constantly changing,” Shepherd said.

From Salon

What's most exciting is our paper highlights the intriguing possibility that repurposing currently available cancer drugs that stabilize focal adhesions might represent a way to restore mechanical integrity at synapses.

From Science Daily

Its insights pertain to the complex rules that govern the processes that emerge when millions of synapses undergo plasticity under in vivo conditions -- like in the living brain.

From Science Daily

The exact molecular details of how signal processing in the mossy fiber synapses works are still unknown.

From Science Daily