Synapskløften

Synapskløften, also known as the synaptic cleft, is the microscopic gap between two neurons where communication occurs. Specifically, it is the space between the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the postsynaptic neuron. This space is crucial for the transmission of neural signals.

When an electrical impulse, called an action potential, reaches the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron, it triggers the release of chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles within the axon terminal and are released into the synapskløften. Once in the cleft, they diffuse across the space and bind to specific receptors on the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron.

This binding process can either excite or inhibit the postsynaptic neuron, influencing whether it will fire its own action potential. The precise width of the synapskløften varies but is typically around 20-50 nanometers. The rapid diffusion of neurotransmitters across this small gap ensures efficient and timely communication between neurons, which is fundamental for all nervous system functions, from simple reflexes to complex thought processes. After transmitting the signal, neurotransmitters are either degraded by enzymes or reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron, a process that terminates the signal and prepares the synapse for subsequent transmissions.