synaptic cleft

cleft (kleft) a fissure, especially one occurring during embryonic development.

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anal cleft  gluteal c.

branchial cleft 

1. any of the slitlike openings in the gills of fish, between the branchial arches.

2. pharyngeal groove.

facial cleft 

1. any of the clefts between the embryonic prominences that normally unite to form the face.

2. prosoposchisis; failure of union of a facial cleft, causing a developmental defect such as cleft cheek or lip.

gluteal cleft  that which separates the buttocks.

subneural clefts  evenly spaced lamella-like clefts within the primary synaptic cleft, formed by infoldings of the sarcolemma into the underlying muscle sarcolemma.

synaptic cleft 

1. a narrow extracellular cleft between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes.

2. synaptic trough.

visceral cleft  pharyngeal groove.

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synaptic cleft

n.

See synaptic gap.

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synaptic cleft,

the microscopic extracellular space at the synapse that separates the membrane of the terminal nerve endings of a presynaptic neuron and the membrane of a postsynaptic cell. Nerve impulses are transmitted across this cleft by means of a neurotransmitter. Also called synaptic gap. See also neuromuscular junction.

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synaptic

pertaining to a synapse.

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synaptic cleft

a narrow space between the plasma membranes of the presynaptic and postsynaptic cells.

synaptic junction

see synapse.

synaptic vesicle

one located in the axon terminal of a presynaptic cell, containing neurotransmitter substances.