PSYC 271 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Axon Terminal, Acetylcholinesterase, Reuptake
25 Mar 2020
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Document Summary
Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that is in charge of the activation of muscles. The neurotransmission of acetylcholine begins when an electric response (known as the action potential) travels along the axon of the presynaptic neuron toward the axon terminal (1). The action potential cannot cross the synaptic cleft (a physical space between the axon terminal and dendrites of a neighbouring neuron). When it reaches the axon terminal it causes membranous sacs (known as vesicles) to move toward the membrane of the axon terminal, enabling the vesicles to release its contents into the synaptic cleft (2). The molecules released are neurotransmitters and in our case specifically acetylcholine. The neurotransmitter then moves across the synaptic cleft and binds itself to special proteins in the postsynaptic neuron called receptors (3). The binding of neurotransmitters to their receptors triggers action post synaptic neuron (4). Now that the neurotransmitter has relayed its message it releases from its receptor back into the synaptic cleft.
