but it has been estimated that one neuron can receive contacts from up to

10,000 other cells. Similarly, any one neuron can contact up to 10,000
postsynaptic cells.

Exocitosis es el proceso durable que consume energía y

en el cual una célula dirige el contenido de vesículas
secretoras de la membrana celular en el espacio
extracelular.

Feedforward excitation and Feedforward inhibition

Let’s first discuss the branch to the left that forms a synaptic connection (green
triangle) with an Extensor (E) motor neuron (colored blue). The action potential
in the sensory neuron invades the synaptic terminal of the sensory neuron
causing the release of transmitter and subsequent excitation of the motor
neuron. The stretch to the muscle leads to an action potential in the motor
neuron (MN), which then propagates out the peripheral nerve to invade the
synapse at the muscle, causing the release of transmitter and an action
potential in the muscle. The action potential in the muscle cell leads to a
contraction of the muscle and an extension of the limb. So, here we have a
simple feedforward excitation circuit that mediates a behavior.

Now let’s examine the right branch of the axon of the sensory neuron of Figure
7. The action potential in the sensory neuron invades the synaptic terminal of
the sensory neuron causing the release of transmitter, and subsequent
excitation of the postsynaptic interneuron colored black. This neuron is called
an interneuron because it is interposed between one neuron (here the SN) and
another neuron (here the MN). The excitation of the interneuron leads to the
initiation of an action and the subsequent release of transmitter from the
presynaptic terminal of the interneuron (black triangle), but for this branch of
the circuit, the transmitter leads to an IPSP in the postsynaptic flexor (F) motor
neuron (colored red). The functional consequences of this feedforward
inhibition it is to decrease the probability of the flexor motor neuron becoming
active and producing an inappropriate flexion of the leg.
Convergence & Divergence

The simplified circuit mediating the stretch reflex is summarized in Figure

8. However, the proper function of the circuit of the stretch reflex also relies on
convergence and divergence. A single sensory has multiple branches that
diverge and make synaptic connections with many individual motor neurons
(click on "Divergence"). Therefore, when the muscle contracts as a result of
the neurologist’s tapper, it does so because multiple muscle fibers are activated
simultaneously by multiple motor neurons. Also, when the muscle is stretched,
not one, but multiple sensory neuron are activated and these sensory neurons
all project into the spinal cord where they converge on to individual extensor
motor neurons (click on "Convergence"). So, the stretch reflex is due to the
combined effects of the activation of multiple sensory neurons and extensor
motor neurons.