chemical transmission

Chemical transmission is a fundamental process in the nervous system where neurons communicate using chemical substances called neurotransmitters. This occurs at synapses, the junctions between neurons. When an electrical impulse (action potential) reaches the end of a neuron (presynaptic terminal), it triggers the release of neurotransmitters stored in vesicles. Calcium ions play a crucial role in this release process. These neurotransmitters then cross the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the next neuron (postsynaptic neuron), influencing its activity by opening or closing ion channels. This binding can either excite the postsynaptic neuron, causing it to generate its own action potential, or inhibit it. Enzymes are vital in biochemistry, acting as catalysts for specific biochemical reactions within living systems.1234