Final answer:
The statement is true; neurons and muscle fibers are separated by a fluid-filled gap known as the synaptic cleft, which is essential for the transmission of neural signals to muscles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true: the neuron and muscle fiber membranes do not actually touch but are separated by a fluid-filled gap, known as the synaptic cleft. Neurons transmit signals to muscle fibers at a specialized junction called the neuromuscular junction. Here the axon terminal of the motor neuron comes close to the muscle fiber, forming a synapse. The extracellular fluid in the synaptic cleft allows the transfer of neurotransmitters, which carry the signal from the neuron to the muscle fiber, prompting it to contract. Similarly, in the nervous system, synapses between neurons also have a synaptic cleft where neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals from one neuron to another.