BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Axon terminals communicate signals to the next neuron primarily through the release of chemical signals, known as neurotransmitters. When an action potential, an electrical impulse, reaches the axon terminal of a neuron, it triggers the influx of calcium ions. This influx causes synaptic vesicles within the terminal to fuse with the presynaptic membrane and release neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, the space between the two neurons.

These neurotransmitters then bind to specific receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the adjacent neuron, leading to various responses, such as the opening of ion channels. This can generate a new electrical impulse in the postsynaptic neuron if the signal is strong enough. This chemical communication is crucial for the propagation of signals throughout the nervous system and is essential for processes such as muscle contraction, reflexes, and various neurological functions.

Other options may describe aspects of neural communication but do not accurately present the predominant mechanism involved at the axon terminal. For instance, mechanical vibrations do not play a role in neural communication, and electrical coupling usually refers to gap junctions that allow ion flow between some types of cells, rather than the secondary communication method used in synapses.