zenuwoverdracht

Zenuwoverdracht, also known as synaptic transmission, is the process by which a neuron communicates with another neuron or with a target cell, such as a muscle or gland cell. This communication occurs at specialized junctions called synapses. When an electrical signal, called an action potential, reaches the end of a neuron's axon (the presynaptic terminal), it triggers the release of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, the small gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons.

These neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to specific receptors on the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron or target cell. This binding causes a change in the electrical state of the postsynaptic cell, either exciting it (making it more likely to fire an action potential) or inhibiting it (making it less likely to fire). The effect depends on the type of neurotransmitter and the type of receptor.

After transmitting the signal, neurotransmitters are either degraded by enzymes or reabsorbed by the presynaptic neuron, a process called reuptake, to terminate the signal and prepare for the next transmission. This precise and regulated process of zenuwoverdracht is fundamental to all nervous system functions, including thought, emotion, movement, and sensation. It is a complex interplay of electrical and chemical events that allows for rapid and efficient information processing throughout the body.