The arrival of a(n)____ causes synaptic vesicles to be released from their protein anchors,allowing the vesicles to fuse with the cell membrane and release ____ into the synaptic cleft.
A)action potential;neurotransmitters
B)neurotransmitter;an electrical charge
C)action potential;an electrical charge
D)neurotransmitter;more neurotransmitters

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An action potential is an electrical impulse that travels down the axon of a neuron, causing synaptic vesicles to be released from their protein anchors. These vesicles then fuse with the cell membrane and release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, the small gap between the sending neuron and the receiving neuron. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. Choice B is incorrect because neurotransmitters themselves do not cause an electrical charge. Choice C is partially correct because an action potential does involve an electrical charge, but it is the action potential that causes the vesicles to release neurotransmitters, not an electrical charge being directly released. Choice D is incorrect because releasing more neurotransmitters would require additional action potentials to be generated, but it does not directly answer the question of what causes the release of neurotransmitters in the first place.

The Arrival of A(n)____ Causes Synaptic Vesicles to Be Released