During synaptic transmission:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

During synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters are released from presynaptic terminals and diffuse across the synaptic cleft to bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane. This binding triggers a change in postsynaptic membrane potential, which can be excitatory or inhibitory depending on the type of receptors and neurotransmitters involved. Voltage-gated calcium channels do play a role in the process by allowing calcium ions to enter the presynaptic terminal and trigger the release of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles, but this does not occur in the postsynaptic membrane. Similarly, neurotransmitters are not absorbed by the postsynaptic membrane, but rather bind to receptors on it. Finally, while fusion of neurotransmitter-filled vesicles with the presynaptic membrane is necessary for their release, this is not a step in the postsynaptic side of synaptic transmission.

During Synaptic Transmission