CHARLES SHERRINGTON – THE SYNAPSE FROM ANTIQUITY TO ACTUAL STATUS

Abstract

This paper aim is to discuss and clarify about the way we perceived the functionality of the synapse since 4th century BC up to modern times and actual status. The discussions over the way synapses work began over 2400 years ago and it all started from the simple question of how the locomotive system works and how do the muscles contract. The First who discussed about this concept was Plato during the 4th century BC. We are discussing about René Descartes (1596-1650) depiction of a clear view in the book entitled “De Homine” (1662) over the view of the brain and the innervation of the body. In modern times, the word “synapse” was coined for the Physiology” of 1897 , for which Sherrington wrote 3 chapters. He proposed his former Professor to introduce the word “synapse” which comes from Greek and means “conjunction”. For this discovery, Charles Sherrington and Edgar Douglas Adrian were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1932.