The word 'synapse' is a modern scientific term coined from Greek elements. It was introduced by the English physiologist Sir Michael Foster in 1897, based on the suggestion of his colleague Arthur Verrall. The term literally means a 'joining together' or 'connection', built from 'syn-' (together) and the Greek root related to 'haptein' (to fasten). This perfectly describes its function as the critical point of functional contact and communication where one neuron fastens its signal to the next, allowing nerve impulses to travel through the nervous system.

Structure: syn (together) + apse (connection) 'syn' is from Greek, meaning 'together, with'. 'apse' is from the Greek 'haptein', meaning 'to fasten, to join'.