Which structure forms the connection between a neuron and its target cell?

The structure that forms the connection between a neuron and its target cell is the synapse. A synapse is a specialized junction where the transmission of information occurs from one neuron to another, or from a neuron to a target cell, such as a muscle or gland cell.

When an electrical impulse, or action potential, travels down the axon of a neuron, it reaches the synapse, where it triggers the release of neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers then cross the synaptic cleft (the small gap between the neurons) and bind to receptors on the surface of the target cell, facilitating communication and the continuation of the signal.

Dendrites serve as the receiving end of signals for neurons, collecting information from other neurons but do not constitute the connection with the target cell. The axon transmits the action potential away from the neuron but does not form the connection itself; instead, it leads to the synapse. The Node of Ranvier is a gap in the myelin sheath of an axon that facilitates the rapid conduction of impulses along the axon, contributing to the overall transmission process but not to the connection with the target cell.