Synapse/Synaptic Gap?

[HiddenUser]

Just did a practice exam and one of the questions asked "What is a synapse". The answer in the solutions is the 'gap between two neurons'.

I always thought synapse was the 'junction of two communicating neurons' and the gap was the 'synaptic gap'.

Which is which?

[slothpomba]

They're both *pretty much* the same thing (as far as i've gotten from my university level neuroscience anyway).

A synapse is the "meeting point" of two neurons or where they come together. If you were to draw a synapse you'd draw a neuron on the top, with its axon terminal on the bottom, a gap and the dendrite of another neuron on the bottom. It implies its the meeting point of two neurons so of course you have to show both.

A synaptic cleft/synaptic gap is just the the area of space between a pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neuron where neurotransmitters travel across but people also call this a synapse too.

I think if you say synapse for both you'll be understood (consult your teacher).

TL;DR - They're all the same thing.

[slothpomba]

I attached a picture just in-case you got even more confused

[Felicity Wishes]

1. What an annoying question. 
2. I spent a lot of time on this area during learning and this is what I ended up with:

Synapse: The site of communication between adjacent neurons. A synapse has three components: the synaptic gap, the axon ending of the presynaptic neuron and the dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron.

Synaptic gap: The tiny space between the axon ending of a presynaptic neuron and the dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron.

Hope that helped!
Also, what practice exam was that?

[pi]

What if they mean "gap" by "gap junction"? Then they're both the same thing!

[HiddenUser]

Thanks to you all for clearing that up. 

1. What an annoying question. 
2. I spent a lot of time on this area during learning and this is what I ended up with:

Synapse: The site of communication between adjacent neurons. A synapse has three components: the synaptic gap, the axon ending of the presynaptic neuron and the dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron.

Synaptic gap: The tiny space between the axon ending of a presynaptic neuron and the dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron.

Hope that helped!
Also, what practice exam was that?

Thanks, it was the Insight 2011 Trial Exam.