What is the chemical released by nerve endings to help pass nerve information from one cell to another?

• A. Hormone
• B. Neurotransmitter
• C. Enzyme
• D. Ion

Answer: (B)

Signals between nerve cells at the synapse are conveyed by neurotransmitters. When an impulse reaches a nerve ending, these chemical messengers are released into the synaptic gap, cross to the next cell, and bind to receptors to pass the message along. This explains why neurotransmitter is the best choice: it specifically refers to the chemicals that carry signals across synapses. Hormones travel through the blood to distant targets, enzymes are catalysts for reactions and not the messenger between neurons, and ions are charged particles involved in electrical activity but not the signaling molecules released into the synaptic cleft.