Synaptic Cleft: Understanding Nerve Impulse Transmission

The area between neurons across which nerve impulses travel is called the synaptic cleft or synaptic gap. It separates the pre-synaptic neuron from the post-synaptic neuron. Neurotransmitters released from the pre-synaptic neuron diffuse across the synaptic cleft to bind to receptors on the post-synaptic neuron, initiating a post-synaptic response.