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Synaptic Presynaptic Acetylcholine Membrane Action Potential Knob Neurone

Front Stages for cholinergic synapse
Back Action potential arrives at synaptic knob of the presynaptic neurone

Action potential stimulates voltage gated calcium ion channles in presynaptic neurone to open

Calcium ions diffuse into synaptic knob

Influx of calcium ions in synaptic knob causes synaptic vessicles to move to presynaptic membrane and then fuse with presynaptic membrane

Vesicles release neurotransmitter acetylcholine into synaptic cleft (exocytosis)

acetylcholine diffuses across synaptic cleft into postsynaptic membrane 

Depolarisation of membrane occurs

action potential on postsynaptic membrane produced if threshold reached

Acetylcholine is removed from synaptic cleft so response doesn't keep happening, enzyme breaks down acetylcholine and products are re-absorbed by presynaptic neurone and used to make more acetylcholine

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