noun

• A chemical substance which is released at the end of a nerve fibre by the arrival of a nerve impulse and, by diffusing across the synapse or junction, effects the transfer of the impulse to another nerve fibre, a muscle fibre, or some other structure.

  ‘Cnidarians contain chemical synapses and release neurotransmitters, including biogenic amines and peptides.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Excitatory neurotransmitters transfer an impulse to the next cell.’
  • ‘Nerve impulses are transmitted at synapses by the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters.’
  • ‘Postsynaptic proteins receive the neurotransmitters released by presynaptic proteins.’
  • ‘A neuron generates an electrical impulse, causing the cell to release its neurotransmitters.’