| synaptic terminals | The somewhat enlarged, often club-shaped endings by which axons make synaptic contacts with other nerve cells or with effector cells (muscle or gland cells). As isolated, by homogenizing brain or spinal cord, they contain acetylcholine and the related enzymes. Terminals contain neurotransmitters of various kinds, sometimes more than one. These can be demonstrated by chemical analysis and immunocytochemical methods. See: synapse. Synonym: axonal terminal boutons, end-feet, neuropodia, pieds terminaux, synaptic boutons, synaptic endings, synaptic terminals, terminal boutons, bouton terminaux. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| synaptic transmission | <physiology> The process of propagating a signal from one cell to another via a synapse. (10 Jan 1998) |
| synaptic vesicle | <cell biology> Intracellular vesicles found in the presynaptic terminals of chemical synapses, which contain neurotransmitter. During activity the vescles release their contents at the synapse and the neurotransmitter stimulate receptors on other cells. (10 Jan 1998) |
| synaptic vesicles | Membrane-bound compartments which contain transmitter molecules. Synaptic vesicles are concentrated at presynaptic terminals. They actively sequester transmitter molecules from the cytoplasm. In at least some synapses, transmitter release occurs by fusion of these vesicles with the presynaptic membrane, followed by exocytosis of their contents. (12 Dec 1998) |