Diffusion in branching regions

Abstract

The problem of diffusion from an instantaneous point source in a thin plane sheet which is intersected by one or more other thin plane sheets of the same material is considered. This problem arises in the study of the diffusion of packets of transmitter substance in synaptic clefts, and some numerical results for the amphibian neuro-muscular junction are presented. A similar discussion applies to branching rods and to cases where there is loss of diffusing substance at the surfaces of the sheets.