What Is Synapse – Everything You Need To Know.

There are times when people use the word synapse without even knowing what it means or maybe they are almost right. So in this article you will know what Synapse is. But before starting with the main topic. We recommend you know some things that are related to the synapse.

Histology

From the histological and functional point of view. A neuron has three main zones. Which are: The dendrites, the body (or soma) and the axon. There are 2 of these elements (dendrites and axon). Which are in charge of establishing synaptic relationships: The dendrites are like antennas. So they are receiving most of the information coming from the other cells; and the axon. It works like a cable, with which one neuron can be connected to others.

Connections can be established over a short distance. Which is a few hundred micrometers around, or a much greater distance. An example is the spine, this can communicate with organs such as: Muscles to reach movement (neuromuscular synapse).

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Prototypical synapse

1. A prototypical synapse (which are those that are visualized in the dendritic buttons). It consists of the cytoplasmic projections, which adopt a mushroom shape in each cell that forms it. And when the ends of both are joined, they squeeze each other. And in the area of ​​cell membranes of the above mentioned. They are the ones that form a simple tight junction, which allows the molecules that send signals (these are called neurotransmitters). The channel in which the unification of the postsynaptic neuron runs. It becomes approximately 20nm in thickness (width) and is known as the synaptic cleft.
2. Note that these synapses are not symmetric. Both in its architecture and in its operation. Only the pre-synaptic neuron secretes neurotransmitters, which bind to the transmembrane receptors that the post-synaptic neuron has in the cleft. In the presynaptic nerve terminal (it can also be called a synaptic button or button) it commonly emerges at the end of an axon, and in the postsynaptic zone it is generally the one that corresponds to a dendrite to the zones or cell bodies.
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4. And in the place of the synapse where the neurotransmitter is released, it can be called the active zone. In this place there are membranes of the 2 cells that are adjacent, which are very closely linked by proteins (which is cell adhesion). And just behind the membrane belonging to the postsynaptic cell, there is a compilation of the proteins that are intertwined, which are called postsynaptic density.
5. These are the ones that fulfill numerous functions, ranging from the anchoring of various proteins, which regulate the activity of the receptors, to the anchoring and movement of the receptors, which are neurotransmitters in the plasmatic membrane.

Synapse types

These types of synapses, although they are different when compared to each other, are both important, since they have their own function, which becomes fundamental in this topic. One of these are somewhat complex and it becomes a bit difficult to explain, so you will have to do more research on that type. And the other one, although it is short, can also be investigated much more thoroughly on that subject to reach a much more solid conclusion. This subject can be understood well if you know the concept of the synapse, so you will not have any problems.

Next you will read the types of synapses, which are:

• electrical synapse. It is the one which has the function of transmission between one neuron and the other, it is not produced by the secretion of something called neurotransmitter, it is not like the chemical synapse. Since the passage of ions from one cell to the other through is based on gap junctions, these small channels that are formed by protein complexes, which are based on connections, in cells that are very tightly packed.
• chemical synapse. They are those that are established between cells, which are separated from each other by a space of 20 or 30 nanometers (nm), in something called the synapic cleft.

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What is?

• It is an approximate (functionally) intercellular that is specialized between neurons, whether between the 2 association, to a neuron and effector cell (several times it is muscular or glandular). And it is in these contacts that the transmission of a nerve impulse is carried out. This begins with the chemical discharge, which originates from the electrical current that comes from the membrane of the presynaptic cell (also called the emitting cell); and once the nerve impulse reaches the end of the axon (at the connection with another cell), the neuron secretes a kind of chemical compound (which are neurotransmitters).
• Which are the ones that deposit in the synaptic space or cleft (which is half the space between a post-synaptic and transmitting neuron). And thanks to these substances that were secreted (which is acetylcholine, acetylcholine, etc.) they are in charge of exciting the action of a cell (which is called a postsynaptic cell).