Explain the process of the transport and release of a neurotransmitter with the help of a labelled diagram showing a complete neuron, axon terminal and synapse.
Ans.
Neurotransmitters help in the transmission of impulses at the junction between two neurons called chemical synapse. In the synapse, there exists synaptic vessels in the axon terminal called synaptic knob. These vessels contain neurotransmitters. The impulses from the nerves reaches the axon terminal and travel through it as electrical signals. When the impulse reaches the end of the axon, it picks up the neurotransmitters present in it and attaches it to the chemo-receptors that are present on the dendrite membrane of next neuron. This attaching of chemicals (acetylcholine) with chemo-receptors leads to depolarization of membrane generating a nerve impulse across the nerve fiber.Acetylcholine is inactivated and hydrolyzed by the enzyme found in the post synaptic membrane- acetylcholinesterase. The hydrolyses facilitates the repolarization of the membrane.