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 3^rd volume of the 7^th 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