GO_term: GO:0045202   

GO:0045202	Definition	The junction between a nerve fiber of one neuron and another neuron or muscle fiber or glial cell; the site of interneuronal communication. As the nerve fiber approaches the synapse it enlarges into a specialized structure, the presynaptic nerve ending, which contains mitochondria and synaptic vesicles. At the tip of the nerve ending is the presynaptic membrane; facing it, and separated from it by a minute cleft (the synaptic cleft) is a specialized area of membrane on the receiving cell, known as the postsynaptic membrane. In response to the arrival of nerve impulses, the presynaptic nerve ending secretes molecules of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These diffuse across the cleft and transmit the signal to the postsynaptic membrane.
	Term (2)
	Type	Cellular_component
	Child	Instance	GO:0031594
		Component	GO:0042734
			GO:0043083
			GO:0045211
	Parent	Instance_of	GO:0005578
	Attributes_of	Motif	INTERPRO:IPR008899
		Gene (11)
		Index	Ancestor (19)
			Descendent (10)

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