Question

Once the action potential reaches the axon terminal, what happens next?

A) exocytosis of a merocrine
B) release of the neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft
C) release of a neurohormone into the blood
D) Any of the above could happen next.

Answer 1

Once the action potential reaches the axon terminal, what happens next it "Release of the neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft." Option B is answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

When the action potential reaches the axon terminal, the next step is typically the release of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synapse, the small gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrites of another. The release of neurotransmitters occurs through a process called exocytosis. In this process, synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters fuse with the cell membrane, releasing the neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft.

Option B, "Release of the neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft," accurately describes the immediate event following the arrival of an action potential at the axon terminal. This process is crucial for transmitting signals between neurons and facilitating communication in the nervous system.

Option B is answer.