Specialized junctions at which a neuron communicates with a target cell. At classical synapses, a neuron's presynaptic terminal releases a chemical transmitter stored in synaptic vesicles which diffuses across a narrow synaptic cleft and activates receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the target cell. The target may be a dendrite, cell body, or axon of another neuron, or a specialized region of a muscle or secretory cell. Neurons may also communicate via direct electrical coupling with ELECTRICAL SYNAPSES. Several other non-synaptic chemical or electric signal transmitting processes occur via extracellular mediated interactions.

Descriptor ID	D013569
MeSH Number(s)	A08.850 A11.284.149.165.420.780
Concept/Terms	Synapses Synapses Synapse

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Synapses".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Synapses".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Synapses".