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What is the name of the gap between two nerve cells?
Synapse
Dendrite
Axon
Neuron
The correct answer is: Synapse
The term that describes the gap between two nerve cells is synapse. This is a crucial region in the nervous system where two neurons communicate with each other. The synapse includes the presynaptic terminal of one neuron, the synaptic cleft—which is the actual gap between the two neurons—and the postsynaptic membrane of the receiving neuron. During neurotransmission, an electrical signal travels down the axon of the presynaptic neuron, leading to the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles into the synaptic cleft. These neurotransmitters then bind to receptor sites on the postsynaptic neuron's membrane, facilitating the transmission of signals and allowing for complex neural network communication. Other terms in the choices have distinct meanings within the context of neuroanatomy. Dendrites are the extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons, axons are the long projections that transmit signals away from the neuron's cell body, and neurons refer to the entire nerve cells themselves. Understanding these components provides a clearer view of how neurons interact and transmit information across synapses.