Anatomy

Synapses

Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions.

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Synonyms

1 entry terms
  • Synapse

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Aspects Covered

14 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings chemistry, classification, drug effects, enzymology, genetics, immunology, metabolism, microbiology, parasitology, pathology, physiology, radiation effects, ultrastructure, virology.

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Indexing Annotation

note specifics; IMMUNOLOGICAL SYNAPSES is also available; / physiol: consider also SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION; do not confuse with SYNAPSIS see CHROMOSOME PAIRING

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. A08w.850w
  2. A11w.284w.149w.165.420.780w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

WL 102.8

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Synapses. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D013569. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D013569
  2. Synapses. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapse
  3. Synapses. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q187181