What general term describes the junction between two neurons?

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The term that defines the junction between two neurons is a synapse. This is the specialized structure that allows neurons to communicate with each other. When an electrical signal, or action potential, travels along a neuron and reaches the synapse, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers cross the synaptic cleft—the small gap between the neurons—and bind to receptor sites on the postsynaptic neuron, allowing the transmission of the signal.

The other terms refer to different aspects of neuron structure and function. The axon is the long, thin projection of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body, while dendrites are the branch-like structures that receive signals from other neurons. The phrase "neuron junction" is not a standard term in neuroscience and isn't widely used in the context of neuronal communication. Thus, synapse is the precise and recognized term that clearly represents this critical communication link between neurons.

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