Aksonipääte

Aksonipääte, also known as the synaptic bouton or terminal bouton, is the specialized terminal part of an axon. It is a crucial structure in the nervous system, responsible for transmitting nerve impulses from one neuron to another or to an effector cell such as a muscle or gland.

The aksonipääte is characterized by its bulbous shape and its proximity to the postsynaptic membrane of the next cell. Within the aksonipääte, there are numerous small sacs called synaptic vesicles. These vesicles contain neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers that carry the signal across the synaptic cleft, the tiny gap between the aksonipääte and the postsynaptic membrane.

When an electrical signal, an action potential, arrives at the aksonipääte, it triggers the fusion of these synaptic vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. This fusion process releases the neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. The neurotransmitters then bind to specific receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, initiating a new electrical or chemical signal in the receiving cell.

The structure and function of the aksonipääte are highly conserved across different species and are fundamental to all forms of neural communication. Dysfunctions in aksonipäätte can lead to various neurological disorders.