Final answer:
The statement is true; neurons communicate at synapses through a small gap known as the synaptic cleft, where neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals, but the axon and dendrite do not physically touch.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement “The axon of one neuron does not actually touch the dendrite of the next neuron” is true. The site where the axon terminal of one neuron is close to the dendrite of another is known as a synapse. However, they do not physically touch each other; there is a small gap called the synaptic cleft between them. Neurotransmitters are released into this gap to transmit signals from one neuron to the next.
Multipolar neurons are the most common type in the nervous system and consist of one axon and multiple dendrites. While it is true that axon terminals are the regions where neurons communicate with other cells, including other neurons' dendrites, this occurs through chemical signals across the synaptic cleft, not by direct contact.