What is the primary role of synapses in the nervous system?

The primary role of synapses in the nervous system is to serve as relay points for signaling between cells. Synapses are specialized junctions that facilitate communication between neurons or between a neuron and another type of cell, such as a muscle cell. When an action potential reaches the axon terminal of a neuron, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft, the small gap between the two cells. These neurotransmitters then bind to receptors on the post-synaptic cell, leading to a change in the post-synaptic cell's membrane potential, transmitting the signal forward. This process is crucial for the functioning of the nervous system, as it allows for complex communication networks that underlie behaviors, reflexes, and many bodily functions.

The other options, while related to neuronal function, do not capture the fundamental role of synapses as effectively. For example, generating action potentials is primarily the function of neurons themselves, particularly at the axon hillock rather than at synapses. Connecting sensory receptors to the central nervous system (CNS) is more about the pathways that sensory neurons take rather than the specific function of synapses. Producing neurotransmitters is part of a neuron's role, but not exclusive to syn