Page 167 - The Miracle in the Cell Membrane
P. 167

Axon
                                                    Synapses work like biological
                                      The direc-
                                      tion of the  keys to transmit electro-chemical
                                      nerve
                         Synaptic      Tip of the  signals. Every synapse consists of
                         sacs           synapse   two parts: the rounded part at the
                                                 end of the transmitter neuron, and
                                                 the receiving region in the target
                                                 cell membrane. The synaptic gap
                        Synaptic                 is as tiny as 1 billionth of an inch
                        cavity
                                                 (2.54 centimeters) long and sepa-
                                                 rates the two cell membranes.
                                       Target
                        The magnified               At the bulb-shaped end of the
                        region left   Receptors  cells
                                                 synapse are very small spheres
                                                 called synaptic sacs. Each one
                                                 contains thousands of molecules
                                                 that transmit stimuli.
                                                    When the nerve signal reaches
                                                 the tip, the sacs attach to the mem-
                                                 brane and release their contents
                                                 into the synaptic cavity. This
                                                 enables specific receptor channels
                                                 to open and sodium ions to move
                                                 rapidly towards the target cell. This
             Open channel
                                                 ion flow sets one region of the tar-
                                                 get cell membrane into operation,
               Sodium ions                       and an electrical impulse is formed
                                                 within the target cell.
                                                    This molecular traffic among
                                                 our nerve cells, here described in
                                                 very superficial terms, continues
                                                 constantly at very high levels. Ions
                                                 and some proteins determine
            Receptor
                                                 when this traffic should stop or
                                                 start. It is of course impossible for
                                                 molecules to construct a nervous
                                                 system of their own accord and
                                                 subsequently to organize it in a
                                                 most impeccable manner. These
                                                 molecules have come together
                                                 within a specific Creation, to serve
                                                 a particular purpose. This system
                                                 is one of the examples exhibiting
                                                 Allah's infinite dominion.




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