presynaptic
adjective
pre·syn·ap·tic
ˌprē-sə-ˈnap-tik 
: of, occurring in, or being a neuron by which a nerve impulse is conveyed to a synapse
a presynaptic membrane
a presynaptic neuron
Examples of presynaptic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In fact, the preceding neurons that send incoming signals are referred to as presynaptic neurons - again, ‘pre’ meaning ‘before the synapse’ - and the neuron that is receiving all the signals is the postsynaptic neuron - ‘post’ implying after the synapse.
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Gabriel A. Silva, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2021
The endocannabinoid payload then travels backward to the presynaptic neuron — the neuron that originally sent the signal — and exerts a dampening effect, limiting the amount of neurotransmitter chemicals those cells can release.
—Ben Thomas, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2015
For example, sponge neuroid cells not only express some of the presynaptic machinery of neurons, but also express immune genes.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 Nov. 2021
The findings from this new study seem to bear on that mystery because the researchers found presynaptic gene sets expressed in neuroid cells and postsynaptic genes expressed in choanocytes.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 Nov. 2021
It had been observed that vesicles containing neurotransmitters routinely hover in clusters near the presynaptic membrane until they are needed.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 Nov. 2018
Gabriel A. Silva, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2021
The endocannabinoid payload then travels backward to the presynaptic neuron — the neuron that originally sent the signal — and exerts a dampening effect, limiting the amount of neurotransmitter chemicals those cells can release.
—Ben Thomas, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2015
For example, sponge neuroid cells not only express some of the presynaptic machinery of neurons, but also express immune genes.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 Nov. 2021
The findings from this new study seem to bear on that mystery because the researchers found presynaptic gene sets expressed in neuroid cells and postsynaptic genes expressed in choanocytes.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 Nov. 2021
It had been observed that vesicles containing neurotransmitters routinely hover in clusters near the presynaptic membrane until they are needed.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 Nov. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presynaptic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Presynaptic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presynaptic. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
presynaptic
adjective
pre·syn·ap·tic
-sə-ˈnap-tik
: relating to, occurring in, or being part of a neuron by which a nerve impulse is conveyed to a synapse
presynaptic terminals
presynaptic inhibition
a presynaptic membrane
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