Final answer:
The term for the small gap between a neuron and its target cell in the nervous system is the synaptic cleft or synaptic gap, which is essential for neurotransmitter-mediated communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nervous system:
The small gap between a neuron and its target cell where a neurotransmitter is released is known as the synaptic cleft or synaptic gap. This crucial space facilitates the transmission of chemical signals essential for neuronal communication. Neurons are specialized cells responsible for transmitting information throughout the nervous system. Information travels along neurons in the form of electrical signals.
When an electrical signal reaches the end of a neuron (the axon terminal), it triggers the release of chemicals called neurotransmitters from small intracellular structures known as vesicles. These neurotransmitters cross the synaptic cleft—a very narrow space between the communicating neurons or between a neuron and another type of cell. After diffusing across the cleft, neurotransmitters bind to specific receptors on the surface of the target cell, which may then initiate a new electrical signal in that cell, perpetuating the process of communication.