HOSA Anatomy and Physiology Practice Test 2025 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

Neurotransmitters play a crucial role in facilitating communication between neurons by transmitting signals across synapses, which are the junctions where the axon terminal of one neuron meets the dendrites or cell body of another. When an electrical impulse, or action potential, reaches the end of a neuron, neurotransmitters are released from synaptic vesicles into the synaptic cleft. These molecules then bind to specific receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, leading to the initiation of a new electrical signal in the receiving neuron. This process is fundamental to neural communication, enabling the nervous system to perform complex functions such as reflexes, movement, thought, and sensory processing.

Neurotransmitters do not directly transmit electrical signals within neurons; instead, they act as chemical messengers that bridge the gap between neurons. Their role is not to protect neurons or maintain ion balance, although other cellular mechanisms are involved in those processes. Overall, the ability of neurotransmitters to mediate communication across synapses is essential for the functioning of the nervous system.