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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jan 27.
Published in final edited form as: Front Biol (Beijing). 2010 Aug;5(4):304–323. doi: 10.1007/s11515-010-0650-0

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of a mature neuron and synapse.

Fig. 1

A: A mature neuron has elaborate processes that are composed of multiple dendrites and one axon. Dendrites contain a large number of dendritic spines that form contacts, or synapses, with other neurons. The synapses are typically found on the dendritic shaft, located on stubby spines and filipodia. B: A neuronal synapse is the point of contact between two neurons, a presynaptic neuron and a postsynaptic neuron. It is characterized by specific synaptic proteins located on the pre- and postsynaptic sites.