Nervenübertragungen

Nervenübertragungen (also known as neurotransmitter transmissions) are the processes by which neurons communicate with each other through the release and reception of neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that are released by the terminal end of a neuron, the axon terminal, into the synapse, the gap between the neuron and the next cell to which it is connected, the postsynaptic neuron. The release of neurotransmitters depends on changes in the electrical activity of the presynaptic neuron, specifically action potentials.

The released neurotransmitters then bind to specific receptors on the surface of the postsynaptic neuron, causing changes in the ion channels that allow positively charged ions (such as calcium and sodium) to flow into the postsynaptic neuron. This influx of ions can either depolarize or hyperpolarize the postsynaptic neuron, depending on the type of neurotransmitter and its interaction with specific ion channels.

The transmission of information between neurons is highly regulated and involves complex mechanisms. The activity of neurotransmitters is influenced by various factors, including the interactions between different neurotransmitters, the stimulation of certain receptors, and the modulation of the neuronal activity by hormones and other chemical signals. When a neuron receives neurotransmitter signals, it can integrate them into its own action potential, resulting in a change in the neuron's electrical activity.

Nervenübertragungen play a crucial role in numerous physiological and pathological processes, including brain-based nervous disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.