Synapse by Thomas A. Ban
Structure that permits a neuron (nerve cell) to pass an electrical or chemical signal to another neuron. The term, “synapse” --derived from the Greek term, “synapsis” with the meaning “conjunction”-- was introduced by Michael Foster, in 1897, in the 3rd volume of the 7th edition of his Textbook of Physiology that was revised by Charles Scott Sherrington (Foster and Sherrington 1897; Shorter 2005).
References
Foster M, Sherrington CS. Textbook of Physiology. Volum 3, 7th edition. London: Macmillan; 1897, p. 929.
Shorter E. Historical Dictionary of Psychiatry. Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press; 2005, p. 288.
Thomas A. Ban
March 3, 2016