A synapse is a physical gap at the end of a nerve cell. They contain both parts that produce neurotransmitters and receptors for those neurotransmitters, allowing nerve impulses to be both transmitted and mediated. They can also release neurotransmitters to other types of cells (such as muscle cells) or directly into the bloodstream. Depending on the structure involved, a synapse may interact with only one cell, or with a number of other cells (such as in the brain where synapses may affect many of their neighbors).
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