![]() ![]() The neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors in the plasma membrane of the receiving neuron. This causes the vesicles to fuse with the plasma membrane of the sending neuron, releasing neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. Axon The long, thin structure in which action potentials are generated the transmitting part of the neuron. It contains genetic information, maintains the neuron’s structure, and provides energy to carry out the neuron’s work. A series of recent studies using the dendritic arborization (da) sensory neurons of the Drosophila larva has shown that neuron class-specific dendrite arbor. Thin dendrites resembling a plant’s roots radiate in all directions from the cell body of this cortical neuron. The cell body (soma) is the base of the neuron. Hidden Computational Power Found in the Arms of Neurons The dendritic arms of some human neurons can perform logic operations that once seemed to require whole neural networks. There are receptors and chemically gated ion channels in postsynaptic membrane. It is thicker than presynaptic membrane, about 20-50 nm. The portion opposite the presynaptic membrane thickens to form postsynaptic membrane. Calcium ions bind to the vesicles containing neurotransmitters. A neuron has three main parts: a cell body (or soma), dendrites, and an axon. The postsynaptic element is usually the membrane of soma or dendrite of postsynaptic neuron. ![]() Calcium ions enter the synaptic terminal through the calcium channels. When an action potential arrives at the synaptic terminal, it causes the opening of calcium channels. Neurons can have multiple sets of dendrites, depending on the neuron’s function. They branch out from the cell body like antennae and receive and process signals from the axons of other neurons. These chemicals cross the synapse to the dendrite, where they trigger the flow of ions into or out of. The dendrites are where a neuron receives information from other cells. When electrical impulses reach the end of an axon, they trigger the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters. Dendrites are a collection of highly branched, tapering processes extending from the cell body (soma) of a neuron which conduct impulses toward the cell body. It is very common for the axon to exit the soma opposite the apical dendrite in spiny neurons. A dendrite from one neuron and an axon from another neuron meet at a synapse, which is a very narrow gap between the two cells. ![]() An action potential is propagated down an axon by the opening and closing of sodium and potassium channels. The longer dendrite is called an apical dendrite (all the others are called basal dendrites). The neurotransmitters affect the receiving neuron, changing the distribution of charge across its membrane. When an action potential reaches the synaptic terminals, the vesicles fuse with the plasma membrane of the sending neuron, releasing neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. The synaptic terminal of a sending neuron contains numerous vesicles filled with neurotransmitters, chemicals that carry information across the synaptic cleft. ![]()
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