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Calcium triggers synaptic vesicles to discharge the neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft.

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Calcium ions

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Q: What ion triggers the release of a neurotransmitter at the presynaptic membrane?
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Presynaptic neurons release neurotransmitters by?

An action potential travels down the neuron and reaches the presynaptic knob. This causes the Calcium ion channels to open and allow an influx of calcium into the knob. The increased concentration of calcium causes the secretory vesicles within the knob to bind to the outer membrane and release their neurotransmitter (e.g. ACh) into the synaptic cleft.


What is a presynaptic neuron?

a neuron from the axon terminal of which an electrical impulse is transmitted across a synaptic cleft to the cell body or one or more dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron by the release of a chemical neurotransmitter.


Describe how synapses work?

The action potential reaches the pre synaptic area, which opens a voltage sensitive Calcium ion gate, allowing calcium ions to move in via diffusion along an electrochemical gradient. The period of refraction (repolarisation) closes this gate. The increased conc. of Calcium ions pushes vesicles with neurotransmitter to the presynaptic membrane, where they fuse and exocytosis causes the neurotransmitter to be released across the synaptic cleft. The NT binds to a receptor which opens Na+ channels on the postsynaptic membrane, allowing depolarisation due to Na+ diffusion which continues the action potential across the other neurone. The neurotransmitters are broken down by enzymes or are reabsorbed by endocytosis into the presynaptic cleft, using energy from ATP.


How does an impulse travel from one neuron to another?

Between neurons, there are two primary methods in which an impulse or action potential can reach another neuron, via a chemical and electrical synapse.Chemical synapseThis involves a chemical messenger and the fact that both neurons are not physically connected, rather the chemical must diffuse across a synaptic cleft to pass on the message. Chemical synapses tend to be slower than electrical ones.The process begins with a wave of electrochemical excitation called an action potential traveling along the membrane of the presynaptic cell, until it reaches the synapse.The electrical depolarization of the membrane at the synapse causes channels to open that are permeable to calcium ions.Calcium ions flow through the presynaptic membrane, rapidly increasing the calcium concentration in the interior.The high calcium concentration activates a set of calcium-sensitive proteins attached to vesicles that contain a neurotransmitter chemical.These proteins change shape, causing the membranes of some "docked" vesicles to fuse with the membrane of the presynaptic cell, thereby opening the vesicles and dumping their neurotransmitter contents into the synaptic cleft, the narrow space between the membranes of the pre- and post-synaptic cells.The neurotransmitter diffuses within the cleft. Some of it escapes, but some of it binds to chemical receptor molecules located on the membrane of the postsynaptic cell.The binding of neurotransmitter causes the receptor molecule to be activated in some way. Several types of activation are possible, as described in more detail below. In any case, this is the key step by which the synaptic process affects the behavior of the postsynaptic cell.Due to thermal shaking, neurotransmitter molecules eventually break loose from the receptors and drift away.The neurotransmitter is either reabsorbed by the presynaptic cell, and then repackaged for future release, or else it is broken down metabolically.This type of synapse is often found in the muscles.Electrical synapse (a.k.a. gap junctions)This may also involve a chemical messenger however generally they are the charged ions directly from the action potential. Additionally, the connection between different neurons are physical and direct, resulting in a generally faster connection than a chemical synapse.The process begins with a wave of electrochemical excitation called an action potential traveling along the membrane of the presynaptic cell, until it reaches the synapse.Ions directly travel through the gap junctions and into the next neuron.This type of synapse is often found in the heart.


How do nerve impulses cross the gap between nerve cells?

When an electrical signal, or impulse, reaches the end of an axon it triggers chemicals called transmitters. The electrical signals then become chemical ones as the transmitters cross the synapse, the gap between an axon and a dendrite. When they reach the dendrite of another neuron they spark a new electrical signal that then travels the length of that nerve cell. And it does this over and over until it reaches its destination.

Related questions

What is the difference between presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons?

Presynaptic neurons release the neurotransmitter in response to an action potential. Postsynaptic neurons receive the neurotransmitter (and can however become presynaptic to the next nerve cell, if the neurotransmitter has stimulated the cell enough).


Are the Autoreceptors are located on the presynaptic membrane?

Yes, Autoreceptors are located at the receptor site on the presynaptic neuron. They provide feedback on the amount of neurotransmitter release in the synaptic cleft in order to regulate its level through the activity of G proteins and second messengers.


Which ion causes neurotransmitters vesicles to fuse with the axons membrane during the conduction of a nerve impulse from one to the next?

Calcium ions cause the neurotransmitter vesicles to fuse with the axon terminal. When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, voltage-gated calcium ion pores are opened, allowing calcium ions into the axon terminal. These ions initiate the release of neurotransmitter vesicles stored on elements of the cytoskeleton located near the presynaptic membrane; they then travel to the presynaptic membrane, where they first dock, and then fuse with the presynaptic membrane, forming an opening or pore through which the neurotransmitters are released into the synaptic cleft.


Presynaptic neurons release neurotransmitters by?

An action potential travels down the neuron and reaches the presynaptic knob. This causes the Calcium ion channels to open and allow an influx of calcium into the knob. The increased concentration of calcium causes the secretory vesicles within the knob to bind to the outer membrane and release their neurotransmitter (e.g. ACh) into the synaptic cleft.


What causes the synaptic delay?

The cause of synaptic delay is attributed mainly to the time needed for the synaptic vesicles to release neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. While it can be considered a combination of binding to the presynaptic membrane (which is relatively a transient process) and subsequent exocytosis of the neurotransmitter, the main factor is release. Additionally, it does take a very short period of time for the neurotransmitter to diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to to its receptors on the post-synaptic membrane.


What are the principles of synaptic transmission?

Calcium ions enter the presynaptic neuron resulting in the release of neurotransmitter from the per-synaptic membrane. The neurotransmitter diffuses across the synaptic cleft, fusing with the receptors of the post-synaptic membrane. This changes the sodium channels to open and sodium ions will to flow into the post-synaptic neuron, depolarizing the post-synaptic membrane. This initiates an action potential. After the post-synaptic neuron has been affected, the neurotransmitter is removed by a type of enzyme called cholinesterase. The inactivated neurotransmitter then returns to the pre-synaptic neuron.


Is calcium a neurotransmitter?

No, calcium itself is not a neurotransmitter BUT it is highly important in the process of the action potential. The action potential triggers the influx of calcium at the end of the terminal bouton, causing the influx of Ca2+ into the cell and this triggers for the release of the neurotransmitter. :)


These lipid molecules may function as retrograde neurotransmitters and allow the postsynaptic neuron to decrease release of neurotransmitter from the presynaptic neuron?

endocannabinoids


How do Presynaptic neurons release neurotransmitters?

They don't, the neurotransmitters stay on either side of the synapse. Neurotransmitters are released when the synaptic vesicles fuse with the presynaptic neuron's membrane, so as to release them into the synaptic cleft.


What happens when presynaptic cell's produce action potentials?

When presynaptic cells produce action potentials, it triggers the opening of voltage-gated calcium channels in the presynaptic membrane. This influx of calcium ions into the presynaptic cell triggers the release of neurotransmitter molecules from small, membrane-bound vesicles. The released neurotransmitters then diffuse across the synapse and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic cell, generating a response in the postsynaptic cell.


How do nerves impulse's across the synapse?

Most neurons have a chemical synapse, which is to say that a substance called a neurotransmitter is released from the first neuron (called pre-synaptic) to the next neuron called (post-synaptic). How is the release triggered? When an action potential reaches the terminus (end of the axon) there are specialized calcium channels that are opened (voltage-gated). The calcium bind so the inner membrane and triggers the release of small membrane bound vesicles which spill out their contents of neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. The neurotransmitter binds to specific receptors on the post-synaptic membrane and that causes the action potential to propagate on (or for the neurotransmitter to cause an action like a muscle contraction).


What is a presynaptic neuron?

a neuron from the axon terminal of which an electrical impulse is transmitted across a synaptic cleft to the cell body or one or more dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron by the release of a chemical neurotransmitter.