How are Nerve Impulses Transmitted Across Synapses?
Nerve impulses are transmitted across synapses through chemical or electrical means. In chemical synapses, the action potential triggers the release of neurotransmitters from the presynaptic neuron. These neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, causing ion channels to open and initiate a new action potential. In electrical synapses, ions flow directly between neurons through gap junctions, allowing for rapid and direct transmission of the impulse.
