How do neurotransmitters transmit action potentials across synapses?

The process can be broken down into 3 main stages. 1 - An Action Potential triggers Calcium Influx: when the action potential arrives at the synaptic knob of the presynaptic neurone, it stimulates voltage-gated calcium ion channels to open, causing an influx of calcium ions into the synaptic knob. 2 - Calcium Influx causes Neurotransmitter Release: the influx of calcium ions causes synaptic vesicles to move towards the presynaptic membrane and fuse with it, releasing neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft by exocytosis. 3 - Neurotransmitters trigger an Action Potential in the Postsynaptic Neurone: neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft and bind to specific receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, which causes sodium ion channels to open, causing an influx of sodium in the postsynaptic membrane. The influx of sodium causes depolarisation, and if the level of depolarisation reaches the threshold voltage, an action potential is generated in the postsynaptic neurone.

TS
Answered by Trishnaah S. Biology tutor

3183 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

For a dihybrid cross, how do you find out what proportion of offspring are expected to have a certain genotype?


The herbicide atrazine works by disabling plastoquinone, one of the proton pumps in photosystem II. Explain how atrazine would kill a susceptible plant (5 marks) (OCR A specimen paper 3)


Endopeptidases and exopeptidases are involved in the hydrolysis of proteins. Name the other type of enzyme required for the complete hydrolysis of proteins to amino acids.


What is the effect of temperature on enzyme activity?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning