Nerve Cells - The Natural History Museum

Each neuron is linked to many others but it is not actually joined to them. There is always a small gap between one neuron and the next. The point where a signal crosses the gap from one neuron to another is called a synapse.

Some synapses stoner excitatory chemicals. When enough of theses chemicals have reached the second neuron, they cause electrical charges inside it. These  charges triggers off a new electrical signal. This is how signals pass from one neuron to another.

When an electrical signal arrives at the synapse, pickets of stored chemicals pass across the gap to special surface on the next neuron.