What structure connects neurons and allows for communication?

The structure that connects neurons and facilitates communication is the synapse. Synapses are specialized junctions where the axon terminal of one neuron comes into close proximity with the dendrite or cell body of another neuron, allowing for the transmission of signals.

When an electrical impulse travels down an axon and reaches the synapse, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters from vesicles in the axon terminal. These neurotransmitters then cross the synaptic gap and bind to receptors on the adjacent neuron's dendrites, initiating a response in that neuron. This complex process is essential for the transmission of information throughout the nervous system.

While neurotransmitters are crucial for communication, they are the chemicals involved in the process rather than the structural connection itself. Dendrites are the parts of neurons that receive signals, and axons are responsible for transmitting impulses away from the neuron, but it is the synapse that actually serves as the point of contact that allows for communication between neurons.