Here's a breakdown:
* Synaptic vesicles are tiny sacs found within the axon terminal of a neuron. They contain neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the nervous system.
* Exocytosis is the process by which the vesicle membrane fuses with the presynaptic membrane, releasing the neurotransmitters into the space between the two neurons.
* The synaptic cleft is the narrow gap between the presynaptic neuron (the neuron sending the signal) and the postsynaptic neuron (the neuron receiving the signal).
This process allows for communication between neurons. When a nerve impulse reaches the axon terminal, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, causing a signal to be transmitted.
