Which of the following junctions allows for the direct chemical and electrical communication between adjacent cells through the passage of small ions and molecules?
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Correct answer: Gap junctions
Gap junctions, or nexus junctions, consist of transmembrane channels called connexons. These channels allow the free diffusion of ions, second messengers, and small metabolites (up to ~1 kDa) between the sarcoplasm or cytoplasm of neighboring cells.
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