"The membrane surrounding a cell that separates the cell from its external environment. It consists of a phospholipid bilayer and associated proteins [goid 5886] [evidence IEA]; A belt-like region of very close contact between the plasma membranes of adjacent cells so that the intercellular space is completely occluded. They occur in epithelia and brain endothelia [goid 5923] [evidence IEA]; The region of the plasma membrane that includes the basal end and sides of the cell. Often used in reference to animal polarized epithelial membranes, where the basal membrane is the part attached to the extracellular matrix, or in plant cells, where the basal membrane is defined with respect to the zygotic axis [goid 16323] [evidence IEA]; Any of the discrete particles (nerve-ending particles) formed from the clublike presynaptic nerve endings that resist disruption and are snapped or torn off their attachments when brain tissue is homogenized in media isosmotic to plasma [goid 19717] [evidence IEA]; A specialized region of connection between two cells or between a cell and the extracellular matrix [goid 30054] [evidence IEA]; The junction between a nerve fiber of one neuron and another neuron or muscle fiber or glial cell; the site of interneuronal communication. As the nerve fiber approaches the synapse it enlarges into a specialized structure, the presynaptic nerve ending, which contains mitochondria and synaptic vesicles. At the tip of the nerve ending is the presynaptic membrane; facing it, and separated from it by a minute cleft (the synaptic cleft) is a specialized area of membrane on the receiving cell, known as the postsynaptic membrane. In response to the arrival of nerve impulses, the presynaptic nerve ending secretes molecules of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft. These diffuse across the cleft and transmit the signal to the postsynaptic membrane [goid 45202] [evidence IEA]; A specialized area of membrane facing the presynaptic membrane on the tip of the nerve ending and separated from it by a minute cleft (the synaptic cleft). Neurotransmitters across the synaptic cleft and transmit the signal to the postsynaptic membrane [goid 45211] [evidence IEA]"